Mental health negligence
Have you, or a loved one, suffered mental or physical injury because of poor mental health care? First4Lawyers can help.
What do you mean by poor mental health care?
People with mental health issues are often a lot more vulnerable and need different levels of care and treatment. In fact, the NHS is set to conduct research into poor care of mental health patients, after an investigation by The Guardian in 2018.
Failure of medical and psychiatric care providers to ensure reasonable safety and wellbeing could result in a medical negligence claim, including:
- Inadequate staffing within a mental health facility/hospital
- Failure to provide a safe environment
- Excessive delays in referral for mental health treatment
- Mental health issues being misdiagnosed as another illness
- Unreasonable force used to detain someone with mental health issues
- A traumatic experience causing psychiatric injury
- Failure to safeguard or supervise someone who is a ‘suicide risk’, or a danger to others
- Medication or dosage errors
- Failure to heed family’s warnings or requests for help
- Being discharged too soon from medical care
How can First4Lawyers help?
Our legal specialists have years of experience helping clients with mental health claims. They can help you put together all the facts to build a successful case.
We also offer a No Win No Fee service, which means there are no upfront legal fees to pay.
Only pay a fee if you receive compensation
Our No Win No Fee solicitors will take a success fee from the compensation you are awarded for a successful claim in the form of a percentage of your damages. This could be up to 25% but it won't be more than that, except in cases of road traffic accidents. Changing laws mean our solicitors will now take a payment of 35% of the final compensation amount plus VAT for all road traffic accident claims.
First4Lawyers are an award-winning claims management company with a track record of delivering service that our clients love.
How much compensation will I receive for a mental health negligence claim?
It’s very difficult to give exact figures when it comes to mental health negligence claims. Awards will look at the levels of negligence, pain and suffering caused, the impact it’s had on the person’s life and any financial losses.
Our advisors can give you a better idea, once we know the details of your individual case.
Is there a time limit for making a claim?
You have three years in which to make a claim. This starts from the date you became aware of the negligence. For children under 18, or those with limited mental capacity, the rules are different, so it’s worth getting in touch with us to find out.
I think I have a claim, what do I do next?
If you are concerned about the treatment you, or a family member, received while receiving care for your mental health, get in touch with us for a free and confidential chat.
Our advisors have dealt with many claims like these and are here to listen with sensitivity and talk you through your options.
We never put pressure on people to make a claim – we just give you the facts and leave it up to you to decide.
