Clinical negligence

Defendant service for clinicians and NHS employers against claims for injury resulting from negligent clinical care.

Claims for clinical negligence can be complex and often involve substantial sums in damages. The outcome of legal proceedings can be strongly influenced by the way evidence is presented and the manner in which expert evidence is manipulated.

Weightmans' Clinical Negligence team has many years in-depth experience in defending clinical negligence claims. Our approach is meticulous, based on a deep understanding of the medical environment and NHS procedures, and focused on the facts and evidence presented in each case.

We analyse each of the three key elements of a claim – duty of care, breach of duty and causation of injury – and challenge every point where the evidence is suspect or disputable. Our research leaves no stone unturned and our skills in cross-examination of expert witnesses, including highly specialised clinical professionals, have resulted in many successfully defended claims.

For clinicians and employers, we provide a helpful, reassuring service backed up by meticulous analysis of clinical records and robust advocacy during legal proceedings. Where necessary, we obtain cogent expert evidence to support our defence strategy in order to achieve the best possible outcome.

We defend claims robustly where it is in your best interests to do so. However, we never lose sight of the particular sensitivities of litigation of this nature, and provide clear, pragmatic advice in cases where part or full liability must be admitted.  We also provide advice on media management where cases attract public attention.