If you think you or a loved one might be eligible to make an orthopaedic claim, contact us today on 0800 0 224 224 or, alternatively, fill out our Start a Claim form.
ORTHOPAEDIC CLAIMS – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is orthopaedic surgery?
If you have suffered damage to your muscles, joints, bones, tendons, ligaments or your nervous system – known collectively as musculoskeletal injuries – you may undergo orthopaedic surgical treatment to repair the damage.
2. How could orthopaedic surgery go wrong?
If a pre-existing musculoskeletal injury was misdiagnosed by medical staff, or if they failed to diagnose it for a substantial period of time despite investigations by doctors, you may suffer further and avoidable pain or complications. If this is the case, you may be able to make a compensation claim.
Alternatively, if a surgical error has caused you orthopaedic injury, Thompsons Solicitors may be able to support your claim.
3. How will Thompsons help me?
Thompsons Solicitors has fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the trade union movement for decades and has expertise in supporting union members with medical negligence claims, including for orthopaedic injury, metal-on-metal implants and knee implants.
We are currently representing more than 500 former patients of disgraced breast cancer surgeon, Ian Paterson. Thompsons Solicitors is also campaigning for ‘Patients Before Profits’, to ensure trade union members are prioritised over profits at private healthcare hospitals.
4. How do I start a claim for compensation?
The first step in making a compensation claim is to contact the specialist medical negligence team at Thompsons Solicitors. Our medical negligence lawyers will need to review your medical records and seek the guidance of medical specialists to deduce whether treatment was negligent.
If, and only if, the specialists at Thompsons believe the evidence is strong enough, they will recommend that you begin a compensation claim as soon as possible.
5. How do I prove that I have suffered an orthopaedic injury because of negligence?
Orthopaedic injury claims are usually very complex, so the experts at Thompsons Solicitors will have to show that, on “the balance of probabilities,” the standard of care was not at a “reasonably expected” level. It then needs to be demonstrated that this negligence has caused your injury, or is attributable to avoidable complications.
Thompsons Solicitors’ experts can help you with this, so don’t delay in contacting us for help.
6. I’m a trade union member - can I make a claim?
Yes. Thompsons Solicitors’ medical negligence specialists are able to offer a free initial consultation for trade union members, as well as special reduced rates if you decide to make a compensation claim with us.
7. Are there time limits for making an orthopaedic injury compensation claim?
Yes. You will need to contact Thompsons Solicitors and begin your compensation claim within three years of you reasonably knowing that your orthopaedic injury was caused, or worsened, as a result of medical negligence.
Exceptions can occur but are rare. It’s always advisable to contact Thompsons Solicitors sooner rather than later so that you can make a compensation claim.
8. How long will a compensation claim take?
There isn’t a set time that it takes to settle a compensation claim. Many medical negligence claims, including for orthopaedic injury, are complex and can take years to reach a conclusion.
9. What if the claim is unsuccessful - will you still charge me?
No. We almost always advise members to make a compensation claim on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis, otherwise known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. This means that, if the claim is unsuccessful, you will not be charged.
