In this guide, we discuss pressure sore claims. We begin by exploring the eligibility criteria you must satisfy to pursue medical negligence compensation. Following this, we outline how evidence can be utilised to support your case and what you may want to supply.
Bed And Pressure Sore Claims
Additionally, this guide looks at the duty of care medical professionals owe their patients, and how a breach of this could lead to avoidable harm. We also provide examples of how bed sores could occur and the complications that can arise from them.
Furthermore, we look at how your case could be assigned a value and what could make up your settlement if successful.
To conclude, this guide looks at the benefits of instructing a solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis and the terms under which they could offer their services.
Please continue reading to find out more about making a medical negligence claim for bed sores. Alternatively, call our team of helpful advisors. They are available 24/7 to answer your questions. To reach them, you can:
- Call us on 0161 696 9685
- Fill in our Contact Us form to enquire about a potential claim online
- Speak with us via live chat on our website
Choose A Section
- Eligibility Criteria For Pressure Sore Claims
- What Are The Causes Of Pressure Sores?
- Evidence To Prove Medical Negligence In Pressure Sore Claims
- How Much Medical Negligence Compensation Could I Receive?
- What Are No Win No Fee Pressure Sore Claims?
- Learn More About Pressure Sore Compensation Claims
Eligibility Criteria For Pressure Sore Claims
You may be wondering, ‘Can you sue for pressure sores?’. All medical professionals owe their patients a duty of care. They must provide care that meets the correct standard. However, if a medical professional provides care below this standard, it could result in patients suffering avoidable harm.
In order to pursue medical negligence compensation, you need to show that:
- You were owed a duty of care.
- The duty of care owed to you was breached.
- Due to this breach, you suffered unnecessary harm.
For more information on pressure sore claims, contact our team of advisors now. They can also provide you with a free case assessment to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria to make a medical negligence claim.
What Are The Causes Of Pressure Sores?
According to the NHS, pressure sores, also known as bed sores, are areas of damage to the skin as well as the tissue underneath. They usually form on bony parts of your body, including your elbows, hips, heels, and tailbone. The main cause is something putting pressure on or rubbing your skin. People who have problems moving have a higher risk of developing pressure sores.
Below, we have provided examples of how a pressure sore could develop:
- A nurse caring for a patient with poor mobility may fail to change the patient’s position regularly.
- There may have been a failure in a hospital to provide specially designed mattresses or cushions for those at risk of pressure sores.
It’s important to note that not all pressure sores will result from medical negligence. Therefore, it is not always possible to begin a claim and pursue medical negligence compensation.
What Are The Consequences Of Pressure Sore Negligence?
Complications of pressure ulcers could include:
- Infections in your bones and joints, which could lead to surgical amputation.
- Cellulitis which is an infection that can spread from the site of the pressure ulcer to a deeper layer of the skin.
- Blood poisoning which can lead to damage of organs and sepsis/ septic shock.
If you are eligible to make a medical negligence claim, you could be awarded compensation to address the way you have been affected.
For more information on compensation awarded in successful pressure sore claims, continue reading our helpful guide. Alternatively, call an advisor on the number above to discuss your specific case.
Evidence To Prove Medical Negligence In Pressure Sore Claims
When making a medical negligence claim, you should gather evidence to show that the avoidable harm you suffered was due to a medical professional’s breach of the duty of care. Evidence can also show how the incident has affected you. As such, you might benefit from gathering the following:
- Photographs of any visible harm you’ve suffered
- Diary entries of your symptoms and treatments
- Copies of your medical records
Providing you have an eligible case, a solicitor from our panel could help you gather evidence to support your medical negligence claim as part of their service. Additionally, they can ensure your case is submitted fully within the relevant time frame.
How Long Do I Have To Claim For Pressure Sores?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, pressure sore claims must generally be initiated within three years of the medical negligence occurring or from the date of knowledge. This is the date you became aware of (or would have been expected to have known about) the medical negligence.
However, there are some exceptions that could apply to the time limit in certain circumstances. To learn more about these call our team on the number above. An advisor can also offer further insight into the services our panel of solicitors provides and assess whether you’re eligible to have a solicitor represent your claim.
How Much Medical Negligence Compensation Could I Receive?
Successful pressure sore claims could include a settlement containing up to two heads of loss. The first is referred to as general damages, compensating you for the suffering and pain caused by the medical negligence. To determine the level of compensation you could be awarded, many factors will be considered, including:
- The severity of the harm you’ve suffered
- The time it takes you to recover
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) is a document that can be used to help work out how much your medical negligence claim could be worth. This document provides guideline award brackets for different types of harm. A report following an independent medical assessment could also be requested as part of the claims process. This report can be used alongside the JCG when valuing general damages.
Below is a table of guideline figures taken from the JCG. Please note that we cannot guarantee the compensation you could receive as all cases differ. As such, these figures are only to be used as a guide.
Compensation Table
| Harm Type | Severity | Compensation - Guidelines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain Damage | Very Severe | £282,010 to £403,990 | Full-time care is needed. |
| Moderately Severe | £219,070 to £282,010 | Very serious disability and the need for constant professional care. | |
| Amputation of Arms | Loss of Both Arms | £240,790 to £300,000 | Leaving someone with full awareness in a state of considerable helplessness. |
| Loss of One Arm (i) | Not less than £137,160 | Arm amputated at the shoulder. | |
| Leg | Amputation (i) | £240,790 to £282,010 | Both legs are lost. |
| Amputation (ii) | £201,490 to £270,100 | Both legs lost below the knee. | |
| Kidney | Serious and Permanent | £169,400 to £210,400 | Both kidneys are lost or seriously and permanently damaged. |
| Lost Kidney | £30,770 to £44,880 | Loss of one kidney with no damage to other. | |
| Foot | Amputation | £169,400 to £201,490 | Both feet are amputated. |
| Amputation | £83,960 to £109,650 | One foot is amputated. |
Claiming Special Damages As Part Of Your Bed Sore Compensation
The second head of loss that could be included in successful pressure sore claims settlements is special damages. This compensates you for reasonable financial losses incurred previously and in the future due to medical negligence, such as:
- Care costs
- Loss of earnings
- Medical costs
- Travel expenses
Evidence, such as payslips and invoices, can help prove any losses for which you are seeking reimbursement.
To discuss how compensation is calculated for successful pressure sore claims, please contact an advisor using the number above.
What Are No Win No Fee Pressure Sore Claims?
You may find it beneficial to consider instructing a solicitor from our panel on a No Win No Fee basis if you have an eligible case. They could offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement which typically means the following:
- You don’t have to pay any upfront costs to begin working with a solicitor.
- No running costs for the solicitor’s services are required to progress your case.
- If your case succeeds, a legally capped percentage of your compensation, known as a success fee, will be taken by your solicitor.
- If your case doesn’t win, no success fee will be taken.
To find out whether you could be eligible to work with one of the No Win No Fee claim solicitors from our panel, call an advisor on the number above. They can also offer further guidance on the eligibility criteria for pressure sore claims and answer any other questions you might have regarding seeking medical negligence compensation.
For more information, you can get in touch with an advisor by:
- Calling on 0161 696 9685
- Filling in our Contact Us form to enquire about a potential claim online
- Speaking with an advisor via live chat on our website
Learn More About Pressure Sore Compensation Claims
For more of our helpful guides, please look below:
- A guide discussing what is classed as medical negligence and information about claiming compensation.
- Read about hospital-acquired infections and how to claim if you have been affected.
- Learn about the process of making a GP negligence claim and how compensation could be awarded.
For some external help, please look here:
- Information on getting medical help from the NHS.
- Information on the NHS Constitution for England from GOV.UK.
- Guidance on the standards expected of doctors from the General Medical Council.
We hope this guide has answered your questions about pressure sore claims. However, if you need any other information, call an advisor on the number above.
Page by MN
Published by NL