IT IS VITAL THAT YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT LAWYER TO SUPPORT YOU WHEN MAKING A CLAIM

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At Starling Lawyers, we have decades of experience working in both frontline healthcare and law. We have unique insight into what is needed to succeed in a compensation claim.

Clinical negligence claims can cause additional emotional stress. Therefore, where possible, we try and resolve claims without going to court.

Why Choose Starling Lawyers?

Our combined clinical and legal expertise means we don’t miss crucial evidence that may be overlooked by those who lack a clinical background.

Our senior team of specialist lawyers and doctors previously worked at the highest level in the world’s leading not-for-profit medical protection organisation. We are experts in analysing clinical negligence claims.

Our unique background has given us access to leading clinical experts in all fields, ensuring our clients access the best possible treatment. No stone is left unturned when we investigate your claim.

Accident & Emergency

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Amputation

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Brain Injuries

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Cancer

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Accident And Emergency

Treatment given by A&E specialists is usually excellent and often lifesaving. However, busy departments and stretched resources mean that errors are inevitable.

For example, where clinical practitioners have failed to:

  • Examine the patient properly
  • Carry out the correct investigation
  • Refer to a senior colleague or seek advice from an appropriate specialist
  • Correctly report investigations such as scans and x-ray

Such errors can lead to patients being wrongly discharged home, thereby worsening their condition.

Our clinical negligence lawyers are experts in dealing with claims involving a delayed or missed diagnosis of a variety of injuries and conditions, for example:

  • fractures
  • deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • stroke and brain haemorrhage
  • cauda equina syndrome
  • meningitis
  • sepsis
  • aortic aneurysms
  • testicular torsion

If you suspect you may have experienced clinical negligence in Accident & Emergency, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Amputation

Losing a limb can have a devastating impact on a person’s future.

Our team of specialist medical negligence solicitors have dealt with many claims where an amputation has been avoidable, for example:

  • Delay in diagnosing meningitis
  • Negligent surgical treatment
  • Delay in treating DVT
  • Delay in referring to an appropriate specialist

If you suspect you have lost a limb due to medical negligence, we can assess the strength of your case and advise you on raising a claim.

Medical negligence may result in amputation following misdiagnosis by your treating doctor in the following situations:

 

  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Delay in diagnosing Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • Meningitis leading to meningococcal septicaemia
  • Peripheral arterial disease
  • Surgical error
  • Severe infection (gangrene)

Amputation can have life-changing consequences. Compensation may be necessary to:

  • Buy prosthetic limbs not available through the NHS
  • Access rehabilitation and therapy to assist your recovery
  • Adapt your home or purchase new accommodation to allow you to live independently
  • Purchase equipment to aid your mobility (for example, a specially adapted car)

At Starling Lawyers, we may also be able to help you claim for past and future loss of income as a result of your injury.

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Brain Injury

Brain injury due to medical negligence

If you want to know more about claiming compensation for a brain injury caused by medical negligence, please get in touch with Starling Lawyers for expert advice and assistance.

The brain is a complex organ. Unfortunately, a minor injury can result in devastating consequences for an individual and their family. Brain injuries caused by medical negligence can lead to loss of speech, mobility and even personality changes.

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Tumours

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Infections in the brain

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Stroke

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Delay in diagnosing brain tumour

A delay in diagnosing a tumour in the brain can lead to severe disability. The longer a brain tumour is left untreated, the greater the risk of a poor outcome. 

Benign brain tumours are often slow to present, and delays in diagnosing brain tumours are not uncommon. However, your doctor is duty-bound to thoroughly identify and investigate your symptoms and, where necessary, refer you to the appropriate specialist for ongoing investigations and treatment.

If you suspect that you or a loved one have experienced negligent treatment or care, please get in touch with Starling Lawyers, and our specialist team of lawyers and doctors will assess your case.

Please complete our online enquiry form below, and one of our clinical negligence lawyers will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation.

Delay in diagnosing infection in the brain

A delay in diagnosing infection in the brain can lead to severe disability. The longer an infection is left untreated, the greater the risk of a poor outcome for the patient.

Your doctor is duty-bound to thoroughly identify and investigate your symptoms and, where necessary, refer you to the appropriate specialist for ongoing investigations and treatment.

If you suspect that you or a loved one have experienced negligent treatment or care, please get in touch with Starling Lawyers, and our specialist team of lawyers and doctors will assess your case.

Please complete our online enquiry form below, and one of our clinical negligence lawyers will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation.

Stroke

A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is reduced or cut off, damaging brain cells.

In the UK, someone suffers a stroke every five minutes. It may happen very quickly, without warning and can affect both young as well as older people.

There are three different types of stroke: ischaemic strokes, haemorrhagic strokes and transient ischemic attacks.

 

  • Ischaemic stroke occurs when a blockage cuts off the blood supply to the brain. It is the most common type of stroke.
  • Haemorrhagic stroke results from bleeding in or around the brain.
  • A transient ischaemic attack is similar to a stroke, except that the symptoms last for a short time because the blockage reducing the blood supply to the brain is temporary

Can you recover from a stroke?

All strokes are different. For some people, the effects may be relatively minor and may not last long. For others, the consequences may be life-changing or even fatal.  

A stroke is a medical emergency. Treatment must be given quickly to allow the best chance for a good recovery.

Over 100,000 people in the UK suffer from stroke each year, creating a heavy burden on the health service. This burden means that people may not always get the treatment they need, with catastrophic consequences. 

If your doctor misdiagnosed a stroke or you suspect that medical negligence may have resulted in worse outcome, Starling Lawyers can help by investigating the events and getting you the answers, you need.

Our specialist lawyers and clinical advisers are available to answer your questions, start your claim and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Cancer

Our specialist medical negligence lawyers can support you if you have received a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of cancer. Our team of legal and medical advisers have in-depth knowledge of claims involving delayed diagnosis of cancer and the impact on available treatment options.

A delay in diagnosing and treating cancer can have a devastating impact on your health as cancer cells have a greater opportunity to multiply and spread to other areas of the body. In some cases, diagnosis may come too late, resulting in avoidable or early death.

Cancer claims

Starling Lawyers’ medical negligence team has extensive experience in dealing with cancer misdiagnosis claims, including the following:
 

  • Brain cancer
  • Bowel cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Cervical cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Skin cancer
  • Testicular cancer

Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, deferred cancer screening may have severe consequences for people whose cancer is detected too late to enable a full recovery.

You might be entitled to compensation if medical negligence results in a late cancer diagnosis and poor prognosis.

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Cardiac

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Eye Injuries

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GP Claims

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Hospital Errors

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Cardiac

A serious heart condition can cause worry and stress for both you and your family. Discovering that medical care you or a family member received was negligent only adds to your distress.

In the UK, a person dies of heart and circulatory diseases approximately every three minutes. Most patients receive a high standard of care. However, inevitably there are circumstances when care falls below the standard expected and worsens a person’s condition with devastating effects.

Medical negligence arising from the misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of cardiac disease can lead to a reduced life expectancy or death.

Common cardiac and heart disease conditions

It is not uncommon for misdiagnosis of cardiac conditions. These include:

  • Coronary heart disease
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Peripheral arterial disease
  • Aortic disease
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
  • Heart failure

If you suspect misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis has worsened your condition, you may be able to claim compensation.

Our specialist medical negligence lawyers and doctors have extensive experience dealing with compensation claims involving General Practitioners and cardiac specialists (cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons) who failed to recognise evidence of heart disease or refer for cardiac investigations to rule out heart disease.

Cardiac claims are often complex and challenging. We work alongside world-leading medical experts to ensure no stone is left unturned when investigating your claim.

Our combined clinical and legal expertise ensures we will not miss crucial evidence that may be overlooked by those who lack a clinical background.

Our medical negligence team have significant experience in managing a wide variety of cardiac claims, including:

  • Delayed diagnosis and treatment of myocardial infarction (heart attack)
  • Delay in diagnosing and treating abdominal aortic aneurysm
  • Negligent treatment of pericarditis and endocarditis
  • Negligent cardiac surgery
  • Failure to diagnose a cardiac arrhythmia resulting in brain injury

A misdiagnosis can have long term consequences on a person’s quality of life and, in the worst cases, lead to brain injury or even death.

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Eye Injuries

Damage to the eye and vision impairment can arise from the following situations.

These include:

  • Laser eye treatment 
  • Trauma to the eyes
  • Delay in diagnosing and treating glaucoma
  • Cataract, corneal and vitreoretinal surgery
  • Retinal detachment treatment
  • Surgery to the eye muscle (strabismus and macular degeneration)
  • Corneal transplant
  • Surgery for a blocked tear duct (dacryocystorhinostomy)
  • Negligent prescriptions for glasses, contact lenses, eye drops and medication.

 

Compensation

Compensation for eye injuries varies depending on the severity of your injuries. Our team is unique in that it comprises lawyers and doctors who work closely to ensure you receive fair compensation for the damage caused by negligent treatment.

You may be entitled to compensation for the following:

  • Any future care needs
  • Specialist equipment – such as visual aids, walking sticks, home adaptations
  • Medical treatment costs
  • Expenses from attending appointments for treatment and therapy
  • Loss of earnings
  • Physical and emotional pain and suffering

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

GP Claims

General Practitioners (GPs) are the first medical professionals we turn to when we feel unwell. As general doctors, their clinical knowledge is broad, and their role carries great responsibility to ensure their patients are referred for specialist investigations when a clinical condition falls outside their area of expertise. 

GPs assess patients by listening, asking the right questions and performing clinical examination before deciding whether to prescribe medication or refer to an appropriate specialist.

Any error in this process can lead to an avoidable worsening of a patient’s health and wellbeing, impacting their ability to work and live independently. Such circumstances can result in a compensation claim.

Where a GP fails to diagnose symptoms of disease or illness correctly, prescribe the proper medication, or refer you to an appropriate specialist, causing your condition to worsen, you may be entitled to claim compensation for medical negligence.

Types of GP negligence might arise from:

  • Inadequate clinical examination
  • Failure to thoroughly investigate a patient’s symptoms
  • Delay in diagnosing life-threatening conditions such as meningitis, heart attack and stroke
  • Delay in specialist referral
  • Failure to act on abnormal test results
  • Prescribing incorrect medication
  • Failure to perform medication reviews and consider a patient’s past medical history

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Hospital Error

Hospitals treat thousands of people with wide-ranging medical conditions every day. While most care is excellent, errors inevitably occur, leading to an avoidable worsening of a patient’s health and wellbeing.

Where a hospital doctor fails to diagnose a disease or illness correctly, prescribe the proper medication, or refer you to the correct specialist, causing your condition to worsen, you may be entitled to claim compensation for medical negligence.

Hospital negligence might arise from:

  • Inadequate clinical examination
  • Failure to thoroughly investigate symptoms
  • Delay in diagnosing life-threatening conditions
  • Failure to act on abnormal test results
  • Prescribing incorrect medication
  • Failure to perform medication reviews and consider a patient’s past medical history

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please contact our specialist lawyers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Medication Errors

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Hospital Acquired Infection

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Medication Errors

If you suffered an injury because of a hospital drug error, you might be entitled to compensation.

Medication errors are not uncommon, and the vast majority will cause the patient no harm or minor symptoms. There are, however, cases where the outcome can have severe consequences or prove fatal.

All medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, have a duty of care to their patients to administer drugs according to national guidelines and their hospital policy. Any failure to do so may result in a finding of medical negligence.

Types of medication errors include:

  • Prescription error
  • Administration of the wrong drug
  • Administration of the wrong amount of the correct drug
  • Failure to monitor a patient receiving repeat prescriptions
  • A pharmacist substituting medication without consulting the prescribing doctor or the patient 
  • Medication labelling error regarding quantity or instructions

At Starling Lawyers, we have extensive experience in dealing with claims arising from medication errors. These range from minor harm to anaphylaxis and catastrophic brain injuries.

If you suspect you have experienced negligent treatment or care, please get in touch with Starling Lawyers, and we will assess your case. To advise you on your case accurately, please complete the online enquiry Form. An expert lawyer will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation.

Hospital Acquired Infection

Healthcare providers have a duty to ensure that patients do not acquire infection due to receiving negligent hospital treatment.

Hygiene is crucial in any healthcare setting, but most acutely during surgical procedures when a person is most at risk from being exposed to infection. Infection can arise from negligently sterilised equipment, poor wound care, or inadequate hospital infection policies to detect and prevent onward transmission of infectious diseases.

Two common infections are MRSA and Clostridium Difficile. These infections are resistant to many antibiotics, making them difficult to treat. They can cause severe complications, prolonging recovery, and, in the worst cases, prove fatal.

If you suspect negligent treatment has resulted in a hospital-acquired infection, please get in touch with Starling Lawyers, and we will assess your case.

Please complete the online enquiry Form. One of our expert lawyers will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation

Meningitis

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Nursing

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Spinal Injury

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Surgical Claims

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Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges). It can affect anyone, but it is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.

If not treated quickly, meningitis can lead to septicaemia, brain injury and death in approximately 10% of patients diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.

The early symptoms of meningitis can be easily mistaken for other conditions, such as the common cold and flu. As a result, delayed diagnosis of meningitis is not uncommon.

Symptoms of meningitis can develop rapidly and might include:

  • High temperature
  • Headaches
  • Vomiting
  • Rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is held against it
  • Stiff neck
  • A dislike of bright lights (photophobia)
  • Drowsiness
  • Seizures/fitting

Clinical negligence may occur when a medical professional should have suspected meningitis and delayed providing treatment to reduce the risk of life-threatening or fatal consequences.

Our experienced clinical negligence lawyers and medical advisers have significant expertise in managing claims relating to catastrophic injuries arising from delays in diagnosing meningitis.

If you suspect that you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Where a loved one has sadly died from complications arising from meningitis, you may still be entitled to compensation for loss of society (loss of a close relationship). 

Our specialist clinical negligence lawyers can provide professional and sensitive advice and support to help you find the answers you need.

Nursing

Most nurses deliver excellent care to their patients in the most challenging circumstances. However, staffing shortages and the demands on nursing services mean that errors will inevitably occur, leading to avoidable injury or harm.

What is nursing negligence?

The Nursing and Midwifery Council sets the standards nurses must meet when providing care to their patients.

Nursing negligence occurs when the care given by the nurse falls below the standard expected from a reasonably competent nurse, causing a patient to suffer (mental or physical) injury or harm.

Nursing negligence may arise when a nurse fails to:

  • Record key information on a patient’s chart
  • Identify patient risk factors
  • Identify and report changes in a patient’s condition
  • Administer the correct medication
  • Follow correct procedures
  • Follow medical practitioner’s instructions

Such failings can have serious consequences ranging from tissue damage and the development of pressure sores to the delay in identifying haemorrhage resulting in death.

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please contact our specialist lawyers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will get in touch to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Spinal Injuries

Spinal injuries can have a devastating impact on a person’s life, causing severe complications. These can include paralysis and a disconnection between the brain and the body, leading to extensive disability.

In other cases, spinal injuries can arise from a delay in diagnosing spinal cord compression (cauda equina syndrome) or spinal trauma. The outcome may be less severe but might still have a considerable impact on daily life, including:

  • Difficulty walking
  • Problems with bowel and bladder control
  • Loss of movement in your arms or legs
  • Numbness or tingling sensation in your hands and feet
  • Severe pain in the back and neck

You must usually raise a claim for compensation within three years from the incident date. Exceptions to this time limit include when the injured person is under 18 years old or lacks capacity.

The amount of compensation a court will award depends upon the severity of a person’s condition and prognosis.

Our highly experienced clinical negligence lawyers and medical advisers are here to advise you on how best to proceed with a claim

You may be entitled to compensation for the following:

  • Lost earnings: for past lost wages while you were unable to work due to your injury. In the most severe cases, compensation may also be awarded for future lost earnings if your injuries prevent you from returning to work or only in a limited capacity.
  • Rehabilitation expenses: physiotherapy, occupational therapy and therapy relating to mental health and wellbeing
  • Care expenses: support to help with activities of daily living, personal care, domestic tasks and mobility.
  • Home improvements: including adaptations to your home, such as installing ramps, hoists and widening doors or enabling you to move to suitable accommodation.
  • Travel expenses: fuel and parking costs associated with attending hospital, therapy and other medical appointments.
  • Pain and suffering: the physical and emotional impact on your ability to enjoy your life.
  • Funeral costs: a loved one has passed away as a result of their injury.
  • Loss of society: compensation for the loss of a relationship when a loved one has passed away.

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers and clinical advisers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Surgical Claims

A surgical error can cause severe complications for a patient, including haemorrhage, infection and scarring. Such errors may require care in an Intensive Care Unit, additional surgical procedures, and a prolonged hospital stay and recovery.

Surgical errors can cause difficulty in many areas of your life, such as physical and mental health and wellbeing, issues in your personal, family and working life, and affect your relationships with others.

Compensation could assist your recovery by meeting the cost of rehabilitation and ongoing treatment and care. For example:

  • Rehabilitation therapy such as physiotherapy
  • Remedial surgery
  • Medical equipment to support your recovery
  • Expenses related to travel and parking when attending appointments
  • Loss of income
  • Adaptations to your home

The amount of compensation you receive will depend upon the severity of your injury and its impact on your daily life.

Our specialist lawyers and medical advisers have considerable experience in investigating injuries arising from surgical errors.

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers and clinical advisers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Consent

Surgical claims may also arise due to surgery proceeding without proper consent.

When seeking consent to treatment, a surgeon must take reasonable care to ensure that their patient is aware of ‘material risks’.

In its guidance, Decision making and consent (2020), the General Medical Council advises doctors to try to find out what matters to their patients. This guidance encourages doctors to share relevant information about the benefits and harms of the proposed treatment and possible alternatives, including the option to take no action.

Claims involving consent often arise when complications occur, which, had the patient been aware of, would have prevented them from consenting to surgery.

You may be entitled to compensation if you have undergone surgery without being fully advised of the risks and unexpectedly suffered complications

If you suspect you or a loved one may have experienced clinical negligence, please get in touch with our specialist lawyers and clinical advisers today. Once you have completed our online enquiry form, we will contact you to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your case.

Do Not Delay

The law applies strict time limits when claiming compensation.

The time limit for raising a compensation claim for clinical negligence is three years from the date of the harm or the date you became aware that you may have suffered an injury due to negligence. An injury may present many months or years later, for example, complications arising from a hip replacement, mesh used in a gynecological procedure or breast implants.

Medical Negligence FAQs

How will I pay for my medical negligence case?

There are three main ways to fund your case. They are:

  • A Success Fee Agreement (‘no win no fee’)
  • Legal Aid
  • Privately

Your lawyer will discuss the best way to fund your claim.

How will I pay for my medical negligence case?

There are three main ways to fund your case. They are:

  • A Success Fee Agreement (‘no win no fee’)
  • Legal Aid
  • Privately

Your lawyer will discuss the best way to fund your claim.

How much compensation will I receive?

Your compensation will depend on the severity of the injury and its impact on your life.

Some examples of typical compensation awards for medical negligence include:

  • £25+million for cerebral palsy due to negligent management of labour
  • £7 million for the life-changing neurological injuries a man suffered during a routine surgical procedure
  • A six-figure settlement for delayed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome causing reduced mobility
  • A five-figure payment for a delay in diagnosing coronary artery disease leading to avoidable myocardial damage

The purpose of compensation is to access the support and treatment you need to get back to the best possible quality of life. At Starling Lawyers, our priority is your health and wellbeing. We will ensure you access the care and treatment you need to make the best possible recovery.

Our team is unique in that it comprises lawyers and doctors who have considerable experience working in frontline healthcare and law. We work hard to ensure you receive fair compensation for injuries caused by negligent treatment.

We calculate compensation requirements taking the following into account:

  • The nature and severity of your injury or illness
  • Unnecessary pain and suffering you have experienced
  • Your prospects of making a full recovery

You may also be entitled to compensation for the following:

  • Care costs – home visits and rehabilitation
  • Specialist equipment – visual aids, walking sticks, home adaptations
  • Medical treatment costs – paying for further surgery or medical procedures
  • Expenses from attending appointments for treatment and therapy
  • Loss of earnings – covering time off work (past losses) and any time off in the future or change of employment due to your injury.
Is medical negligence compensation taxable?

Compensation from medical negligence is not taxable in the UK. It can, however, impact your income if you are on benefits.

If your compensation increases the value of your savings or other capital to more than £6,000, your eligibility to receive state means-tested benefits will be affected. For example, this may include:

  • Job seekers allowance
  • Income support
  • Housing benefits
  • Employment and support allowance

Interest paid over and above the compensation payment may be subject to tax.

Starling Lawyers do not provide tax advice. We advise you seek specialist tax advice from an accountant or tax lawyer.

We will guide you through your claim with
professional, straightforward and sensitive advice

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