Contaminated Blood Compensation Claims

We know you might be worried about how much a medical negligence claim might cost you, given everything you may have already been through. However, our team will put you first by discussing all the possible financial options with you. We could even take on your claim on a No Win, No Fee basis. This means you won’t pay any legal fees if your medical negligence claim is unsuccessful.

We pride ourselves on being open, so you’ll always be aware of what the final bill could be at the end of the process, and there’s no obligation to go forward once you get in touch for a Free Case Assessment.

There is usually a 3-year time limit to make a claim for medical negligence. This is usually 3 years from the date the blood transfusion took place, but sometimes this can vary because some injuries or infections do not come to light immediately.

The time limit can vary from case to case, so we would highly recommend that you contact our legal experts as soon as possible and we can help you get clear on the next steps. Acting early will help us gather the accurate evidence needed to prove your case and get the best outcome for you. It could also get you the financial and medical support you need sooner.

Many people have successfully secured compensation through government schemes for historic blood contamination cases in the 1970s and 80s, including spouses of those who unfortunately passed away as a result. This means that you shouldn’t hesitate to get in touch if the blood transfusion negligence happened years ago, as we may still be able to help you access compensation.

There is no flat fee for compensation, as the amount you are awarded will completely depend on your situation.

Thousands of victims and partners of people who have passed away because of contaminated blood transfusions have received ‘interim payments’ of £100,000 which is likely to be just the first stage of government payouts before the official Infected Blood Inquiry concludes.

No matter what kind of medical negligence you experienced surrounding a blood transfusion, we will take into account yours and your family’s exact situation to see how you have been affected. We will then negotiate a final settlement that will cater to your specific needs.

For example, we will take into account:

• How serious your medical complications or injuries are, and how they might affect you throughout your life;
• Any income you have lost from taking time off work, either because of your own health or the care and support you’ve had to provide to a loved one following a negligent blood transfusion;
• Any further procedures or surgeries you have had to undergo;
• The pain and suffering you have experienced – both mental and physical;
• Any care, support, aids or adaptations you may need around the house;
• How your lifestyle has been affected because of your infection or injury e.g. your ability to engage in hobbies, exercise or socialise.

With our years of experience, our Medical Negligence team will take all these factors into account and give you a clearer idea of what kind of support you could access through compensation. To find out more, get in touch today for a Free Case Assessment.

Yes, if your child was impacted by contaminated blood or experienced medical negligence involving a blood transfusion, you can claim on behalf of them. You have until your child’s 18th birthday to make a claim on their behalf. After this, your child can make a claim for themselves and they have until their 21st birthday to do so.

If you’re claiming on behalf of someone else who does not have the capacity to make a decision for themselves, no time limit applies for starting a claim. For example, you may be making a claim on behalf of a family member with dementia, or your child with a disability.

Yes, it’s possible to make a claim if you have sadly had a loved one who has passed away following a contaminated or negligent blood transfusion.

If they are performed negligently, blood transfusions can be serious and life-threatening if they are contaminated with diseases or if the blood type is incompatible with the patient’s. We know losing a loved one is a heartbreaking time and can be even more devastating if you believe something could’ve been done to prevent their death so we are here to get you the support and justice you deserve. We know that taking legal action can feel daunting but there is a lot of support that you could be entitled to, so our Medical Negligence lawyers will be here every step of the way to provide advice and get you the compensation you deserve.

You usually have 3 years from the date they passed away to start a claim on behalf of their estate, and we will take things at your pace.

There are exceptions to this 3-year time limit due to certain government compensation schemes that are available for historic victims of contaminated blood transfusions, so to find out more about what you could be entitled to and how we can help, get in touch with our dedicated team today.

Don’t worry about having all the information to hand when you first contact us, as we’ll let you know exactly what evidence we need and it’s our job to source this. However, to help us work towards the best compensation for you, it can help us if you keep:

• Medical reports;
• A diary or written record of how your injury/condition progressed over time;
• Receipts to prove travel costs to appointments, or prescriptions you had to pay for;
• Proof of loss of earnings e.g. bank statements and doctor’s notes.

If you’re making a claim for medical negligence, you may be reassured to know that your compensation won’t come directly out of the NHS’s budget, and is unlikely to do the same for private healthcare companies. These companies usually have a dedicated budget to deal with all medical negligence claims directly.

Following the result of the Infected Blood Inquiry, the government are likely to announce further compensation schemes for victims and loved ones of those who were given contaminated blood, so you may be able to make a compensation claim with our Medical Negligence lawyers while accessing other types of payments as part of these schemes. This will depend on your situation, so one of our team will talk you through your options to make things as straightforward as possible.

We will only take on your claim if we know you have a good chance of securing compensation.

If the other party, e.g. the NHS, do not accept responsibility at all, we may need to go to Court to negotiate a final settlement, but fortunately in the majority of cases a settlement is agreed before the claim goes to Court.