Neonatal Medical Negligence Compensation
A newborn baby is vulnerable to a range of conditions during the first four weeks of their young lives. If your child has been affected by a neonatal injury due to the negligence of a healthcare professional, the expert solicitors at JMW can help you to pursue a neonatal medical negligence claim for compensation.
Neonatal injuries can have a devastating impact on a family. If they are caused by negligent medical treatment, receiving compensation for your baby’s injury could be essential, as this will allow your child to get the support they will need to help them.
In the worst cases, the negligence of a medical professional may lead to stillbirth or neonatal death. In these instances, we will work with you to make a stillbirth or neonatal death claim that will help compensate you for your emotional pain.
Speak to our medical negligence experts about your options today by calling us on 0345 872 6666, or by completing our online enquiry form to request a call back. We handle cases on a no win, no fee basis, meaning you will not have to pay anything towards your legal fees unless your claim is successful.
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How JMW Can Help
Our solicitors help families obtain financial compensation for neonatal injuries or neonatal deaths caused by medical professionals. We believe that those responsible should be held accountable for the harm their mistakes have caused.
We regularly help parents throughout the UK claim compensation that can help cover the costs of rehabilitation and medical care for their child, as well as for the additional care that parents have provided their child. We understand that pursuing a legal claim can be complex, so our team will be here to support your family throughout the whole process, working around your needs and keeping you updated at all times.
For families affected by stillbirth or neonatal death, the need for compassionate support is even greater. When handling neonatal death claims, our priority is to deliver the best outcomes for the families with as little stress as possible, obtaining compensation to help grieving parents get support, access mental health care, pay for funeral expenses and, ultimately, move forward with their lives.
Our team of medical negligence experts includes members of the Law Society's specialist panel of clinical negligence solicitors and the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitors panel. They are among the UK’s foremost authorities on legal issues around making a neonatal injury claim or neonatal death compensation claim.
Using our experience and insight, we offer expert legal advice on every aspect of the compensation claims process, including how to make one, your eligibility, how to obtain the necessary evidence for medical negligence cases, and how to proceed in the right way to ensure you have the greatest chance of success.
Case Studies
How to Make a Neonatal Injury Negligence Claim
When a medical professional's negligent care results in your newborn baby suffering illness or injury, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. Examples of negligence include inadequate hospital care, an incorrect diagnosis or a failure to identify common symptoms.
Making a clinical negligence claim can help you gain access to specialist medical support and therapy that may be necessary as a result of the substandard care, as well as financial support if your child has developed a life-changing condition for which you need to make adjustments to your home or transportation.
To find out whether you are eligible to make a claim, you should call us as soon as possible. JMW’s medical negligence team will investigate the circumstances of your case and gather evidence to demonstrate that your child suffered negligence, reviewing medical records and obtaining reports from independent medical experts to investigate your claim.
We are committed to putting together the strongest possible case when claiming compensation. We may be able to obtain interim compensation to assist with care in the meantime, which can allow you to focus on what is most important - the health and wellbeing of your child.
In cases of stillbirth and neonatal death, our aim will be to obtain neonatal death compensation that reflects the magnitude of your loss, as well as ensuring that you receive the compassionate support you require. We will put you in touch with neonatal death charity organisations and support groups who may be able to offer you further guidance.
FAQs About Neonatal Injury Negligence
- What is a neonatal injury?
Neonatal (or newborn) injuries or illnesses can arise shortly after birth, as opposed to birth injuries, which are issues that arise during delivery. The neonatal period is defined as the first 28 days of a baby's life. During this time, it is essential that the baby is properly monitored, as any unusual symptoms need to be acted upon quickly to prevent the development of potentially serious illnesses and injuries. If not managed effectively, these conditions can lead to permanent disability and the need for lifelong care, or, in the most serious cases, can lead to neonatal death.
- What is the difference between stillbirth and neonatal death?
When a baby dies in the uterus after 24 weeks of pregnancy, this is called a stillbirth. The cause of stillbirth is often unknown but can be related to issues with the mother's health. If a baby dies before the 24th week of pregnancy, this is called a miscarriage.
Neonatal death is the name given to a baby's death that occurs within 28 days of their birth. Injury caused by neonatal negligence can, unfortunately, be so severe that it leads to or directly causes death.
- What are common examples of neonatal injuries and conditions?
Neonatal injuries can lead to a number of debilitating conditions, including:
- Neonatal hypoglycaemia - if a newborn baby is feeding poorly or struggles to adapt to a suddenly fluctuating supply of glucose, this can result in hypoglycaemia. Low blood sugar levels left untreated can lead to brain damage.
- Hip dysplasia - the examination of a baby's hips is an important aspect of the neonatal screening process. If a hip dislocation is missed during the first month of a baby's life, it could lead to hospitalisation, major surgery and issues with walking in later life.
- Neonatal jaundice (kernicterus/hyperbilirubinaemia) – severe complications of newborn jaundice are rare, but if adequate care is not given, it can lead to brain damage and cerebral palsy.
Other issues can arise from:
- Errors concerning premature births in intensive care units
- Post-traumatic stress disorder or postnatal depression for the mother
- Negligent treatment of infections
- Poor care for breathing problems
Talk to Us
Contact our expert clinical negligence solicitors today to find out how we can assist you with your neonatal injury claim on a no win, no fee basis. Call us on 0345 872 6666, or complete our online enquiry form to request a call back at a time of your choosing.
