How Much Heart Attack Compensation Can I Claim?

You could certainly claim heart attack compensation if doctors missed the signs of the heart attack, and this led to you suffering avoidable harm. While heart attacks can come in different forms, some with complications and some with none, they are always a very serious medical emergency, and healthcare professionals should treat any suspected signs with the right level of care.

Here at Advice, we appreciate that experiencing medical negligence is about more than just the harm caused to you. Such negligence is a breach of your trust, and starting a cardiac compensation claim is as much about getting closure and a sense of justice as it is about getting money for your medical needs and other support. Our expert solicitors can support eligible claimants throughout the claims process, providing constant guidance and legal advice from start to finish.

Key Takeaways

• A heart attack or myocardial infarction is a medical emergency where the heart’s blood supply becomes suddenly blocked. 
• All medical professionals have a legal responsibility (a duty of care) to provide medical care that meets the correct standards.
• Medical negligence is said to have occurred if that standard was not met and the patient experienced avoidable harm. For example, the signs of heart attack were missed and you suffered heart muscle damage.
• Symptoms of a heart attack can include a tightening, squeezing or heavy pressure on your chest.
• If a heart attack is not treated this can lead to heart failure, permanent heart muscle damage or even death.

Get in touch with us here at Advice today to discuss with our advisors your potential claim:

• Call us on 0161 509 2856
• Contact us online by completing a form.
• Use our live chat service by clicking the icon on your screen.

Browse This Page

1. What Compensation Can I Get For Heart Attack Medical Negligence?
2. Can Heart Attack Compensation Cover Other Losses?
3. Can I Claim Heart Attack Compensation?
4. Examples Of Medical Negligence In Heart Attack Claims
5. What Do I Need To Claim Medical Negligence Compensation For A Heart Attack?
6. Can Advice Help Me With No Win No Fee Heart Attack Claims?
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Learn More

What Compensation Can I Get For Heart Attack Medical Negligence?

You could receive between £38,210 and £183,190 in compensation for the most serious heart damage, according to figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document contains guideline compensation brackets for a range of injuries, including damage to the heart and chest, as you will see below. 

Your overall compensation payout can be divided between 2 different heads of claim, so you have:

• General damages, under which compensation for the physical harm and psychological distress caused by the medical negligence is paid out.
• And then special damages, for any costs incurred, which will be discussed further below.

When determining a potential compensation amount for a claim, the solicitors here at Advice will examine your medical records alongside relevant guideline compensation brackets from the JCG. The relevant brackets have therefore been summarised here. 

Compensation Amounts

Please note that the first figure here is not a JCG and that this information has been included for guidance purposes only. 

• Very serious multiple forms of harm with special damages – such as a loss of income, medical expenses and care. – Up to £1,000,000 or above.
• Very severe brain damage – where there is little or no environmental response or language function and a need for full time nursing – £344,150 to £493,000.
• Moderate brain damage (iii) – impacting concentration and memory with reduced ability to work. – £52,550 to £110,720.
• Established Grand Mal epilepsy  – £124,470 to £183,190.
• Established Petit Mal epilepsy – £66,920 to £160,360.
• Serious heart damage – and/or removal of one lung, causing permanent pain and scarring  – £122,850 to £183,190.
• Traumatic chest injury – leading to functional impairment and reduced life expectancy – £80,240 to £122,850.
• Damage to the chest and lung – with some continuing disability – £38,210 to £66,920
• Severe psychological distress – with a very poor prognosis and serious problems across all aspects of life – £66,920 to £141,240.
• Moderately severe psychological harm – where there is a much better prognosis, but still significant problems across various areas of life – £23,270 – £66,920.

We stress again that these figures are only guidelines. For a more personalised idea of what your potential claim could be worth, speak to our advisors today. 

Can Heart Attack Compensation Cover Other Losses?

Yes, heart attack compensation can cover other losses, such as a reduction in your income and other costs. These losses are compensated under special damages, some examples of which we have covered in this section.

It is worth mentioning that it is very common to see special damages payouts be significantly higher than corresponding general damages due to the fact that this head of claim accounts for past and future losses. Examples can include:

• A loss of earnings due to time taken off work to recover from the heart attack. 
• Medical bills relating to medication, physiotherapy and other specialist care. 
• Transport expenses to and from your hospital appointments or work once you return.
• Domestic care and support, such as help with cooking meals, cleaning, DIY tasks and caring for dependents if you are unable to complete these tasks safely on your own.
• Accessibility modifications to your home, such as modified showers, handrails, ramps and stairlifts.

Make sure you keep all relevant records of these so your potential claim can be appropriately valued. Documents such as your payslips, care bills and purchase receipts are all good evidence. 

Our advisors are available 24 hours to day to offer free advice and assess your eligibility. So, if you want a better idea of what your potential claim could be worth, or you just have questions, get in touch with us today.

Can I Claim Heart Attack Compensation?

Yes, you could claim heart attack compensation if you can show that a medical professional failed to provide the correct standard of care and caused you avoidable harm. As we examined above, this is the medical professional’s duty of care and it applies to all medical professionals across all healthcare settings.

In summary, then, you could claim for a missed heart attack if:

1. A medical professional owes you a duty of care.
2. This duty was then breached when the correct standard of care was not met.
3. The failure to provide the correct standard of care caused you avoidable harm.

Can I Make NHS Heart Attack Compensation Claims?

Yes, you could claim against an NHS hospital or healthcare provider, as the NHS and private healthcare organisations owe the same duty of care. NHS claims are made through NHS Resolution, the dedicated claims management body of the Department of Health. As NHS Resolution has a separate budget to the wider health service, you do not need to worry about your potential claim impacting future care.

Compensation Claims For Fatal Heart Attacks

A patient’s death is a clear risk associated with cardiac and heart disease, and a cardiac arrest can lead to complete heart failure. If that death was due to a failure of standards, then medical negligence and wrongful death compensation could be sought by the estate of the deceased as well as qualifying dependents. Certain eligibility criteria do apply in fatal medical negligence claims so for more information, speak to an advisor today. 

Examples Of Medical Negligence In Heart Attack Claims

Examples of medical negligence in heart attack claims could include a failure to diagnose your symptoms correctly and not sending you on to the hospital, or not being given an ECG when you arrive. Other scenarios could also arise so we’ve set a few potential examples here:

• Your GP did not call an ambulance despite you showing clear signs of a heart attack: chest pains, sweating, shortness of breath and dizziness. You collapsed in the surgery car park and were rushed to hospital. As a result of the delayed treatment, you suffered significant damage to your heart tissue.
• Upon your arrival at the hospital, you were not given an ECG as you should have been. While waiting in A&E, the blood clot in your heart became free and travelled to your brain. The delayed diagnosis resulted in you suffering a stroke and substantial brain damage.

Other scenarios where a heart attack can occur due to a medical professional failing to uphold standards could arise. For information on claiming in your particular circumstances, or to find out if you could work with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors, get in touch today. 

What Do I Need To Claim Medical Negligence Compensation For A Heart Attack?

There are two things you’ll need to claim medical negligence compensation for a heart attack: strong supporting evidence and to make sure you are claiming within the correct limitation period. 

The evidence you collect will need to not only show the extent of the avoidable harm caused but also how a failure to meet the correct standards caused this. Medical records, proof of financial losses, and ensuring the contact information for any witnesses has been passed to the solicitor can all help prove medical negligence took place. 

You will also need to make sure that any potential claim is started within the medical negligence claim time limit. This is generally 3 years, as per the Limitation Act 1980 although exceptions do apply in certain circumstances. Our guides on these topics provide further information but if you have any questions at all, one of our advisors is only a phone call away. 

Can Advice Help Me With No Win No Fee Heart Attack Claims?

Yes, Advice can very much help you with No Win No Fee heart claims by providing additional guidance as well as a free eligibility check. It takes just a few minutes for our advisors to assess your potential claim, so why not get an answer today?

Following a confirmation of your claim’s validity, you’ll be connected with one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors. They can offer claimants a range of services, support and other assistance throughout the claims process. A few examples of which have been given here:

• Ensuring you receive the right medical care, rehabilitation and other support you require to cope with the harm sustained.
• Assisting you with gathering evidence for the claim.
• Conducting interviews with any witnesses
• Calculating your total damages, including financial losses.
• Keeping you up to date on how the case is progressing and explaining all the tricky legal language. We also have a legal glossary on our website for your reference.
• Negotiating a settlement on your behalf with your healthcare provider’s representatives.
• Finding the right barrister to present the case in court if a trial is required.

Eligible claimants will be offered a particular type of No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). By instructing a solicitor under a CFA, you won’t be met with any solicitor service fees at the start of, during your claim, or if the claim fails. 

A success fee is payable only if the claim is won, and this is deducted from your compensation. As the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 caps the maximum percentage that can be charged as a success fee at 25%, most of the compensation will be yours to keep.

Contact Our Advisors

We’ve covered a lot of ground here, and we are fully expecting you to have questions, concerns or be seeking further elaboration on your particular case. You can get a free eligibility check and make additional inquiries via the contact information here. 

• Call us on 0161 509 2856.
• Contact us online by completing a form.
• Use our live chat service by clicking the icon on your screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we answer some frequently asked questions:

Can You Get Compensation For A Heart Attack?

Yes, you can receive compensation for the avoidable harm caused by a missed heart attack. Any compensation payout can also include financial losses sustained, such as lost earnings.  

How Long Are You Off Work After A Heart Attack?

You could potentially be off work for several months when in recovery from a heart attack, depending on your individual circumstances. The NHS stresses the importance of not rushing the recovery process and getting the right medical guidance at all stages.

What Are The Most Common Symptoms Of A Heart Attack?

Common symptoms of heart attacks can include chest pains, feeling lightheaded, pains that spread into your arms or jaw and neck and a shortness of breath. Other potential symptoms, such as nausea, wheezing or overwhelming feelings of anxiety, can also occur.

What Are Some Causes Of Heart Attacks?

A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart is suddenly interrupted. The main cause of heart attacks is coronary heart disease (CHD), which is made more likely by certain lifestyle choices, including:

• Smoking.
• High fat levels in your diet.
• Diabetes.
• Being overweight.
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol.

How Is A Heart Attack Diagnosed?

Heart attacks can be diagnosed through an ECG. This test should be done within 10 minutes of hospital admission, as it monitors your heartbeat, and doctors can see how your heart is functioning. Blood samples will also be taken.

What Treatment Is Available After A Heart Attack?

If your symptoms are recent, your coronary artery can be widened with a balloon and stent to improve the blood flow. In cases where the symptoms began more than 12 hours ago, other treatments such as blood-thinning medicine or even bypass surgery may be used.

We used the NHS guidance on heart attacks to provide these answers. We’d also like to stress the importance of getting prompt professional medical help if you suspect you’re having a heart attack. 

If, during the course of that treatment, you believe the standards of care were lacking and this caused you to suffer avoidable harm, then talk to our advisors for a free eligibility check today. 

Learn More

You can learn about some other types of medical negligence claims with these pages:

• Find out how to claim for medical drug errors that caused you avoidable harm. 
• See our guide to claiming surgery compensation after operation mistakes. 
• Learn who could claim for prescription errors in a hospital. 

These resources provide further information that we hope you find useful:

• You can read the advice for claimants from NHS Resolution. 
• Learn how to complain about a service or provider with this guidance from the Care Quality Commission. 
• View the NHS Constitution for England on the government website. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide to claiming heart attack compensation. You can ask any questions, voice any concerns and get a free eligibility check for your cardiac negligence claim by speaking to our advisors today. Our team is available 24 hours a day to help you.