Ophthalmology Negligence Claims

Our expertise in ophthalmic negligence claims

Our medical negligence lawyers regularly support clients all over England and Wales with a wide range of ophthalmology injury claims.

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

• Eye surgery errors (including laser eye surgery negligence)
• Negligent treatment of foreign objects in the eye
• Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of glaucoma
• Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of eye infections
• Negligent treatment of diabetes leading to impaired vision
• Negligent treatment of traumatic retinal detachment

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

How we handle ophthalmology negligence compensation claims

Our focus is on making the claims process as fast, cost-effective and stress-free as possible for you, while still ensuring you receive the best possible outcome.

In most cases, we are able to achieve these aims by using negotiation and non-confrontational dispute resolution to agree an out-of-court settlement. This allows you to avoid waiting for a court hearing and dealing with the stress and uncertainty of formal proceedings.

Our team has established relationships with a number of specialist barristers and expert medical professionals. Whatever expertise is required, we can make sure it is available to help us build and present your case effectively.

Our no win no fee ophthalmic negligence claims service

Many people worry about the cost of starting an ophthalmology compensation claim, but in most cases we are able to work with our clients using a ‘conditional fee agreement’, commonly called ‘no win, no fee’ agreements.

With this type of fee arrangement, you do not need to pay anything towards your legal fees and expenses at the outset, meaning your financial situation should be no barrier to your ability to start a claim.

Important, if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay legal fees. You will only need to contribute towards your legal costs if your claim succeeds meaning there is no financial risk to starting a claim.

We provide a full breakdown of the likely costs involved in your claim at the outset, meaning you will have complete transparency over our fees and expenses.

To find out more about starting a no win, no fee ophthalmology negligence claim, please speak to a member of our team now.

What counts as ophthalmology negligence?

This may arise out of negligent treatment (e.g. a mistake made during eye surgery) or from substandard treatment for an eye condition, leading to long-term damage.

To be considered negligent, the ophthalmic treatment you receive must have:

1. Fallen below medically acceptable standards i.e. a competent equivalent professional would not have acted in the same way under the same circumstances.
2. Resulted in a worse outcome than could have been achieved if you had received the right care at the right time.

How much is an ophthalmology negligence claim worth?

This varies from case to case and will be influenced by a number of factors, including:

• How serious the injury and impairment to your vision is
• The effect this has on your life
• What specific costs you have incurred due to your injuries (e.g. paying for private treatment, replacing lost income, buying special equipment)
• What level of liability the defendant admits or is found to have by a judge

There are two types of damages for ophthalmic injuries you can typically claim:

Special damages – Allowing you to recover specific financial costs, both past and future, incurred as a result of your injuries.

General damages – Providing compensation for non-financial losses, such as pain, suffering and lifestyle changes.

During the early stages of your claim, our ophthalmology negligence solicitors will give you a reliable estimate of your claim’s likely value so you have a clear idea of what you may be able to achieve.

How long do you have to claim compensation for ophthalmic negligence?

The standard time limit to bring a claim for ophthalmology negligence is 3 years, starting from that date you became aware of the injury. However, there are longer time limits that may sometimes apply, depending on the circumstances.

For example, if you are making a claim for someone under the age of 18, you will be able to do so until their 18th birthday. If you have not brought a claim by that point, they will then be able to bring their own claim up until their 21st birthday.

If you need to make a claim on behalf of someone who lacks the mental capacity to pursue their own claim, there is normally no time limit for doing so.

Get in touch with our expert ophthalmic injury claims solicitors today

To arrange your free consultation on starting an ophthalmology negligence claim, please call us on 0333 123 9099, email us at enquiries@ibbclaims.co.uk or use the contact form on the right to request a call back.