Ambulance & Paramedic Delays Compensation Claims

Our expertise with paramedic delays claims & ambulance delay claims

We are recognised as one of the country’s leading medical negligence teams, having been recognised by the two leading client guides to the legal profession Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 for our exceptional skill in handling clinical negligence claims, with the Legal 500 ranking us Tier 1 for Personal Injury: Claimant.

Our medical negligence solicitors have decades of experience handling ambulance and paramedic delay claims for people throughout England and Wales, so have the specialist knowledge and skills needed to secure the best available outcome, no matter how complex your claim or how strongly the defendant disputes liability.

We are accredited by the Law Society for Personal Injury Law reflecting our expertise with all types of injury claims, including those involving clinical negligence by paramedics.

Types of ambulance and paramedic delay claims we deal with

We are able to secure substantial compensation for our clients in relation to issues such as:

• Delays in ambulances arriving to emergency calls
• Ambulances not responding to emergency calls
• Delayed diagnosis by paramedics
• Delays in providing appropriate treatment by paramedics
• Delays in transferring patients to hospital by paramedics

We have particular expertise with conditions which are commonly missed or misdiagnosed by paramedics, including:

• Stroke misdiagnosis
• Cauda Equina Syndrome misdiagnosis
• Brain injury negligence
• Sepsis negligence

To find out more about our specific expertise relevant to your situation, please get in touch.

How we handle paramedic & ambulance delay compensation claims

Our goal is to get you the highest amount of compensation, while keeping the claims process as easy as we can for you. To do this, we focus on achieving out-of-court settlements wherever possible as this usually allows you to get a fair settlement faster, with lower legal costs and without the stress and uncertainty of a court hearing.

However, where court proceedings are the best option for your claim, our medical negligence solicitors have the experience and skills needed to give you the strongest available representation, while providing empathetic personal support to make going to court a positive experience for you.

Out-of-court settlements for ambulance & paramedic delay claims

With strong skills in negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), we are able to resolve most ambulance and paramedic delay claims out of court.

Advantages of this approach include:

• Faster resolution of your claim (because you don’t have to wait for a court hearing)
• Lower legal costs
• Less stress for you
• You keep control over the terms of the settlement, rather than leaving the final decisions in the hand of a judge

Court proceedings for paramedic & ambulance delays compensation

Where court proceedings are required, we can guide you through every stage of the process, including:

• Gathering all of the necessary evidence
• Preparing and submitting your claim to the court
• Pre-hearing settlement negotiations
• Preparing you to appear in court
• Representing you in court
• Pursuing appeals where required

We also have strong links with specialist barristers and other key professional experts, so can provide the very best advice and representation for you claim, however it proceeds.

Our no win no fee paramedic & ambulance negligence compensation claims service

We want to ensure every victim of medical negligence has the opportunity to claim compensation, so we represent the majority of our clients on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis as this means there is no upfront cost to you to start a claim.

With a no win, no fee deal (formally known as a ‘conditional fee agreement’) you do not need to pay anything towards our legal fees at the outset and will only need to contribute to those costs if we secure compensation for you.

This means there is no financial risk to you to start a claim and gives you confidence that we are only taking on your claim because we believe you have a strong chance of winning.

We will clearly explain our fee structure and any third-party costs (such as court fees), so you have complete transparency over the costs involved in pursuing a claim for ambulance delays or paramedic delays.

Am I eligible for compensation for delayed ambulance or paramedic care?

To be entitled to compensation for the delayed arrival of an ambulance or delays caused by paramedics, we will need to show:

1. Medical negligence occurred i.e. the treatment you received fell below acceptable medical standards.
2. This substandard treatment led to a worse outcome for your health than would likely have been achieved with appropriate care.

How much compensation can you get for paramedic & ambulance delays?

This will depend on a number of factors, including:

• The impact on your health of the ambulance or paramedic delays
• The effect on your life
• Any financial losses incurred as a result of your injuries
• Any future financial losses you expect to experience due to your injuries
• Your pain and suffering

Damages for paramedic and ambulance delays fall into two main categories:

Financial Losses and Expenses – Covering specific financial losses such as the cost of private treatment, care support, buying specialist equipment and lost income.

General Compensation – Covering non-financial losses you have experienced, such as pain, suffering and lifestyle changes.

Our ambulance and paramedic delays solicitors can provide a highly accurate valuation for even the most complex claims, ensuring nothing is overlooked and that you have the chance to secure the highest possible damages for your injuries.

What is the time limit to claim compensation for ambulance delays and delayed paramedic treatment?

The standard time limit for medical negligence claims is 3 years, however, you may have longer to claim under certain circumstances.

If you are claiming for someone under 18 – You will have until their 18^th birthday to make a claim. The claimant can then potentially bring their own claim until they turn 21.

If you are claiming for someone who lacks mental capacity – There is no time limit to do so.

If you are making a claim for someone who has died – You will generally have 3 years from the date of death to bring a claim.

How long does it take get compensation for paramedic or ambulance delays?

Medical negligence claims commonly take around 18 months to 2 years to settle, but this can vary significantly depending on the circumstances.

Factors that will affect how long your claim takes include:

• The severity of the damage to your health (it usually takes longer to assess the full impact of more serious injuries)
• When the negligence took place (the more recent the incident, the longer you may have to wait for the full impact to become clear)
• Whether the defendant admits liability (claims can usually be resolved much faster if liability is not disputed)

Will my benefits be affected by receiving compensation for ambulance or paramedic delays?

Compensation payouts can be considered as part of your assets for means-tested benefits unless you take the right steps to avoid this. Setting up a Personal Injury Trust to hold your compensation can allow you to use the funds while ensuring they are ‘ring fenced’ so they are not taken into account for means-testing.

There is a 52-week grace period after you receive compensation before it will start being considered for any means-tested benefits, so it is important to move quickly to ensure you do not risk losing out.

Get in touch with our expert ambulance and paramedic negligence claims solicitors today

To arrange your free consultation on starting a compensation claim for ambulance and paramedic delays, please call us on 0333 323 1640, email us at enquiries@ibbclaims.co.uk or use the contact form on the right to request a call back.