Professional negligence lawyers

Professional negligence claims can arise from various types of harm – physical, financial, or psychological. The key is establishing that you suffered harm due to a professional’s failure to meet their duty of care.

You may, for example, be able to claim for:

• Physical injuries
  • Surgical complications from medical negligence
  • Construction injuries from poor safety oversight
  • Physical harm from incorrect treatment
  • Injuries sustained from defective professional advice.
• Financial losses
  • Investment losses from poor financial advice
  • Property losses from surveyor mistakes
  • Business losses from accounting errors
  • Construction costs from engineering mistakes
• Psychological impact
  • Trauma from medical mismanagement
  • Stress from financial losses
  • Depression from professional betrayal.

The strength of your claim depends on proving both the professional’s negligence and the direct link to your injuries or losses.

GMP Law offers free initial consultations to help individuals explore their options. Our experienced lawyers can guide you through the complex process of evaluating your situation and estimating your compensation claim.

There are four primary types of negligence: ordinary negligence, contributory negligence, comparative negligence, and vicarious negligence.

Understanding these different types is essential for your claim:

• Ordinary negligence

1. 1. • Most common in professional negligence cases
      • Involved failure to meet professional standards
      • Examples: A doctor missing obvious symptoms, an accountant missing crucial deadlines

• Contributory negligence

1. 1. • Reduces compensation if you partially contributed to the damage sustained
      • Can significantly impact claim outcomes
      • Example: Not following professional advice accordingly

• Comparative negligence

1. 1. • Allows for shared fault between parties
      • Compensation is adjusted based on the fault percentage of each party
      • Most common in complex professional relationships
      • Example: A patient neglects following post-operative instructions, resulting in complications, but the doctor also failed to give clear guidance

• Vicarious liability

1. • Holds organisations responsible for employee negligence
   • Important in claims against large firms or institutions
   • Can affect who you can make claims against
   • Example: A contractor is vicariously liable for a bystander’s injury caused by an inexperienced, unsupervised worker operating heavy machinery without proper training.

Yes, strict time limits apply:

• Three limits for personal injury losses
• Six years for purely financial losses.

The timeline for claims usually begins from one of the following:

• The date of the negligent act
• The date the damage was discovered
• The date you reasonably should have discovered the issue.

Exceptions may apply in special circumstances, but it’s important to seek legal advice promptly to protect your rights.

Proving professional negligence involves establishing four essential elements:

1. Duty of care: Demonstrating that the professional owed you a duty of care
2. Breach of duty: Showing that this duty was breached through substandard conduct
3. Causation: Establishing a direct link between the breach and the harm suffered
4. Damages: Providing evidence of the damages incurred as a result.

Useful types of evidence include:

• Documentation of errors or omissions
• A signed service contract outlining the professional’s obligations
• Expert assessments on the impact of the breach
• Medical records or reports detailing the extent of harm
• Correspondence related to the services provided.

The duration of a professional negligence claim can vary widely. Most cases typically take between 12 to 24 months to resolve, but more complex cases may take longer. Factors such as the availability of evidence, cooperation from all parties, court schedules, and settlement negotiations can also extend the timeline.