Medical mistakes don’t just cost your health — they cost earnings, independence, and years of recovery. Harris & Co. pursue full compensation against NHS trusts, hospitals, GPs, and private practitioners. No Win, No Fee.
Medical negligence — also known as clinical negligence — occurs when a healthcare professional provides treatment that falls below the standard reasonably expected of a competent practitioner in their field, and that substandard care causes you harm. Medicine carries inherent risks. Not every bad outcome is negligence. The question is whether the care you received fell below the accepted standard.
The legal test is known as the Bolam test: would a responsible body of medical opinion in the relevant specialty consider the treatment acceptable? If the answer is no, the practitioner has breached their duty of care. If that breach caused or worsened your condition, you have a valid claim.
At Harris & Co. Solicitors we pursue medical negligence claims against NHS trusts, private hospitals, GPs, surgeons, dentists, and all healthcare providers. We instruct leading independent medical experts to review your care and build the strongest possible case.
You have a legal right to access your full medical records under the Data Protection Act 2018. Request them from your GP and any hospital involved. We can do this on your behalf, but early access to records allows us to assess your case faster. Records cannot be altered retrospectively — they are a permanent, contemporaneous account of the care you received.
Medical negligence compensation covers both the harm caused by the substandard care and every financial consequence that followed. In serious cases — particularly birth injuries and delayed cancer diagnoses — the financial losses often far exceed the general damages award.
Medical negligence claims require two things: proof that the care fell below accepted standards (breach of duty) and proof that the substandard care directly caused or worsened your condition (causation). Both must be established through independent medical expert evidence.
This is what makes medical negligence claims more complex than most personal injury cases. The defendant is a medical professional who will argue their treatment was appropriate. We instruct leading specialists in the relevant field to review your records and provide expert opinion that withstands scrutiny.
No Win, No Fee. No upfront costs. A solicitor will respond within 2 hours.
Medical negligence claims require meticulous preparation. We obtain your full medical records, instruct independent experts in the relevant specialty, and build a case that addresses both breach of duty and causation before we present it to the defendant.
Medical negligence claims can be complex and lengthy. We handle them on a strict No Win, No Fee basis so you can pursue your claim without any financial risk. You pay nothing upfront and nothing if your claim is unsuccessful.
After the Event (ATE) insurance covers all disbursements — including independent medical expert reports, which are essential in clinical negligence cases and can be costly.
Medical negligence compensation is calculated in two parts. General damages cover the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity caused by the injury — those are the figures shown below. Special damages cover the financial consequences: lost earnings, additional medical treatment, care costs, and future losses. In serious cases, the total compensation package is often many times the general damages figure.
Figures shown are for general damages only. Drawn from the Judicial College Guidelines. Your total compensation will also include special damages. Only a solicitor can provide a reliable estimate after reviewing your circumstances.
| Part of Body | Severity | Compensation Range | Types of Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Minor | £1,880 – £9,260 | Head injury with recovery within weeks. Higher awards where headaches persist. |
| Head | Moderate | £13,430 – £95,310 | Poor concentration, epilepsy risk, personality changes, depression, intellectual impairment. |
| Head | Serious | £186,890 – £204,500 | Reduced life expectancy, serious physical symptoms, significant cognitive changes, substantial dependence. |
| Head | Severe | £240,590 – £292,940 | Minimally conscious state, severe brain damage, vegetative states requiring full-time nursing care. |
| Eye | Severe | £56,080 – £194,870 | Complete blindness in one or both eyes, or severe visual impairment. |
| Face | Minor | £1,460 – £6,340 | Light or no scarring, simple jaw or nose fractures with full recovery. |
| Face | Serious | £15,320 – £22,110 | More serious fractures, damage or loss of several teeth. |
| Face | Severe | £26,010 – £33,020 | Severe facial disfigurement, multiple jaw fractures, chronic pain, scarring. |
| Ear | Minor | Up to £5,080 | Slight or occasional tinnitus. |
| Ear | Moderate | £12,700 – £21,550 | Partial hearing loss or mild to severe tinnitus. |
| Ear | Serious | £25,350 – £33,020 | Complete deafness in one ear with additional symptoms. |
| Ear | Severe | £77,430 – £102,030 | Complete deafness in both ears. |
| Neck | Minor | Up to £5,680 | Soft tissue injuries with recovery within 3 to 24 months. |
| Neck | Moderate | £7,410 – £40,600 | Disc lesions, cervical spondylosis, serious limitation of movement, permanent pain. |
| Neck | Severe | £56,100 – £118,330 | Serious fractures, chronic pain, disc damage, significant permanent disability. |
| Back | Minor | £2,090 – £9,070 | Strains, sprains, disc prolapses. Recovery between 3 months and 5 years. |
| Back | Moderate | £11,730 – £22,140 | Spinal fusion, compressed lumbar spine, prolapsed discs. |
| Back | Severe | £36,390 – £128,410 | Damaged spinal cord, partial paralysis, loss of bladder or bowel function. |
| Shoulder | Minor | Up to £5,720 | Soft tissue injury with full recovery between 3 and 24 months. |
| Shoulder | Serious | £10,890 – £13,920 | Fractured humerus, clavicle, or rotator cuff requiring surgery. |
| Shoulder | Severe | £16,380 – £34,820 | Significant disability from severe damage to the neck or brachial plexus. |
| Pelvis & Hips | Minor | £3,370 – £9,140 | Complete recovery after minor injuries within 2 years. |
| Pelvis & Hips | Moderate | £10,750 – £28,420 | Injuries requiring hip operations or replacement. |
| Pelvis & Hips | Severe | £33,430 – £94,940 | Severe fractures resulting in significant disability or hip replacement. |
| Scarring | Minor | £2,020 – £6,270 | One noticeable scar or several superficial scars. |
| Scarring | Moderate | Up to £6,270 | Partial recovery with non-debilitating symptoms. |
| Scarring | Severe | £6,680 – £16,480 | Several noticeable scars or a single disfiguring scar. |
| Arm | Minor | £5,630 – £13,920 | Fractured forearm. |
| Arm | Moderate | £16,380 – £28,420 | Serious arm injury with long-lasting symptoms. |
| Arm | Serious | £33,430 – £94,940 | Serious injury resulting in inability to use the arm. No amputation. |
| Arm | Severe | £82,040 – £217,540 | Amputation of one or both arms. |
| Elbow | Moderate | Up to £9,140 | Deep cuts, simple fractures, no permanent damage. |
| Elbow | Serious | £13,360 – £23,220 | Restricted movement but no surgery required. |
| Elbow | Severe | £33,430 – £39,760 | Severe disability or requires surgery. |
| Wrist | Moderate | Up to £7,430 | Minor fractures with recovery in 1–2 years. |
| Wrist | Serious | £10,750 – £17,770 | Broken wrist causing some permanent disability. |
| Wrist | Severe | £20,900 – £43,410 | Significant permanent disability or complete loss of function. |
| Hand | Minor | Up to £3,440 | Soft tissue injuries with recovery within 6 months. |
| Hand | Moderate | £4,780 – £9,630 | Permanent but non-intrusive symptoms. |
| Hand | Severe | £24,740 – £146,130 | Clawed or impaired hand, amputation. |
| Finger | Minor | Up to £3,450 | Fully healed fracture within 1 year. |
| Finger | Moderate | £3,370 – £4,250 | Near-complete recovery after broken finger. |
| Finger | Severe | £10,380 – £26,650 | Complete amputation of one or more fingers. |
| Thumb | Minor | Up to £3,450 | Short-term pain resolved within 3 months. |
| Thumb | Moderate | £3,370 – £9,140 | Fractures, nerve or tendon damage. |
| Thumb | Severe | £10,750 – £39,760 | Partial or complete amputation, inability to grip. |
| Leg | Minor | £7,780 – £10,210 | Minor injuries, simple fractures. |
| Leg | Moderate | £15,320 – £39,760 | Partial recovery, compound fractures, arthritis risk. |
| Leg | Severe | £46,780 – £204,500 | Permanently reduced mobility or amputation. |
| Knee | Minor | Up to £9,970 | Soft tissue injuries, bruising with discomfort. |
| Knee | Moderate | £22,340 – £31,510 | Damaged kneecaps, ligaments, torn meniscus. |
| Knee | Severe | £44,470 – £69,770 | Constant pain, severe disability, muscle wastage. |
| Ankle | Minor | Up to £9,970 | Sprains, injured ligaments. Full recovery within a year. |
| Ankle | Moderate | £11,730 – £36,300 | Ligament tears, fractures, osteoarthritis risk. |
| Ankle | Severe | £42,710 – £50,560 | Severe injury, deformities, or potential amputation. |
| Achilles | Minor | £6,200 – £9,140 | Minor instability from tendon damage. |
| Achilles | Moderate | £10,750 – £15,270 | Partially ruptured tendon with disability. |
| Achilles | Severe | £21,320 – £27,860 | Restricted movement from severed muscle tissue. |
| Foot | Minor | Up to £9,970 | Minor fractures with complete recovery within 2 years. |
| Foot | Moderate | £11,730 – £50,770 | Metatarsal fractures with permanent deformity. |
| Foot | Severe | £71,640 – £146,130 | Amputation of one or both feet. |
| Toe | Minor | Up to £6,960 | Broken toes with varying recovery. |
| Toe | Moderate | £8,190 – £9,970 | Multiple fractures, crush injuries, permanent disability. |
| Toe | Severe | £11,730 – £40,660 | Surgical amputation of toes. |
The figures above cover general damages alone. Your total compensation includes corrective treatment costs, lost earnings, care needs, and all future financial losses. Contact us for a free, no-obligation assessment.
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