A dentist is someone that you should be able to trust. They have a ‘duty of care’ and professional standards to which they must adhere. And if they haven’t – and your symptoms have been made worse due to their mistake or inaction – you may have grounds for a dental negligence compensation claim.
Dental errors are not only painful, they can have a significant impact on your day-to-day life. If you’ve been affected, it’s important to seek the apology and financial compensation you deserve. And our team of dental negligence solicitors, here at Injury Lawyers Direct, can help.
Just give us a call on 0800 110 5888 to discuss your case.
‘No win no fee’ dental negligence claims
If you’ve suffered dental negligence, you may be in a lot of pain. That pain, in itself, can be difficult to cope with. But it can also affect many other aspects of your life, perhaps leaving you unable to do the things you usually do, including work. And over time, it can have a serious negative impact on both your financial and mental wellbeing.
We understand, it’s a difficult time and the thought of opening a dental negligence case can be daunting. But that’s exactly why we’re here. If you do wish to proceed, we can make the process as quick and stress-free as possible. We’ll take care of the entire claim for you – from assessing your eligibility to make a dental negligence claim to negotiating a fair settlement – on a completely ‘no win no fee’ basis.
There’s no hassle. No complex legal paperwork. And zero financial risk to yourself.
Whilst you focus on your recovery – and getting any further dental treatment that you require – we’ll take care of the legal aspects of the claim and seek the compensation you so rightly deserve.
NO WIN
NO FEE!
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What type of negligent dental treatment can I claim for?
Dental negligence is a broad term, that can be used to describe a wide range of experiences, from the incorrect fitting of crowns to the misdiagnosis of oral cancer. It refers to any instance in which a healthcare professional – whether that be an NHS dentist, private dentist, orthodontist, hygienist, dental nurse, oral surgeon etc. – has provided a sub-standard level of care and caused further injury or suffering.
But rest assured, whatever the nature of your case, we can help. Not only are we leading dental claims solicitors, we have access to a sub-team of consultant insurers, barristers and medics – who are extremely experienced and knowledgeable in this area. And as such, we can assist with claims for:
- a delayed diagnosis
- a poor standard of treatment
- incorrect or careless treatment
- misdiagnosis
- oral surgery errors
This isn’t a full list. So if your specific experience of dental negligence doesn’t fall into one of these categories, that shouldn’t be a problem. And it doesn’t matter if the care was provided by the NHS or a private practice. Any medical professional can be held accountable for poor dental treatment, and as long as the incident happened within the last three years, it’s worth contacting our specialists.
Open your dental negligence claim today
To start your claim for dental negligence compensation, the first step is to call 0800 110 5888.
Or if you prefer, you can fill out our online contact form and request a free consultation. A specialist dental negligence solicitor from our medical negligence department will then get back to you with more information and a potential time and date for a chat.
After we’ve collected some details about your experience and assessed your dental records, we can advise on both your eligibility to claim compensation and the likelihood of your success. There’s no obligation. Even if we think you have a strong case, we’ll never pressure you into legal action. But if you do wish to move forward with a dental claim, we’ll then get to work – and you can leave everything in our capable hands.
By applying our expertise, we can achieve an appropriate level of justice for the pain, anxiety and suffering you have experienced. So, why wait any longer? Pick up the phone and get in touch today.
Dental negligence FAQs
Am I eligible to make a dental negligence claim?
If a dental professional has made a mistake during diagnosis or treatment – and that mistake has either made your symptoms worse or led to a new injury – you could be entitled to make a dental negligence claim. This applies to dental professionals working in both NHS and private settings.
Typically, a claim will need to be made within 3 years from the point of dental malpractice. Some exceptions to this time limit do apply (e.g. if you’re claiming for a child or someone without the mental capacity to apply for themselves). But in most cases, it’s worth acting as quickly as possible.
To find out if you’re eligible, the best option is to contact our specialist dental negligence solicitors. We can arrange a phone consultation, completely free of charge. And once we know a bit more about your experience, we can advise on your suitability to claim and your chances of success.
How much dental negligence compensation could I receive?
Every dental claim is different. At this point, it’s impossible to say exactly how much compensation you would likely receive. The final figure will depend on several factors, including:
- the severity and complexity of your case
- your level of pain and suffering
- loss of earnings, both now and in the future
- your long-term prognosis
- the cost of any additional care or treatments required
- the overall impact it’s had on your life
Rest assured, when putting together your dental compensation claim, our solicitors will take all of these things into consideration. We will carefully assess each aspect to ensure you receive an appropriate amount.
Dental negligence compensation can’t take away your injury. But it can be the first crucial step to getting things back to how they were before – or, at least, as close as possible. By applying our knowledge and experience, we’ll do everything we can to get the financial justice you deserve.
How long does a claim for dental malpractice take?
The dental negligence claims process can take anywhere between a few months to a couple of years.
Primarily, the timescale of a case will depend on the severity of the negligent treatment and whether the dental professional has admitted liability. It can also be affected by who you’re claiming against, with claims to a private dental practice often taking a little longer than those made to NHS Resolution.
Here at Injury Lawyers Direct, we always strive to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients, in the shortest possible time. More information on this topic can be found in our blog. But to get a better idea of how long your dental negligence claim may take to complete, you’re always welcome to get in touch.
How do I make a dental negligence claim?
We appreciate that you may be going through a difficult time, which is why we aim to make claiming for dental negligence as straightforward as possible.
It’s a simple four-step process:
- Get in touch for a free initial consultation
Whether you’re ready to start your dental claim or would just like a little advice on what to do next, the first step is to get in touch with our team. We’ll talk through the details of your experience and the negligent dental treatment received. Then, based on this insight and information, we can advise if there are grounds for a claim.
If there is, there’s no pressure to go ahead. We’re here to offer advice and support, and will give you as much time as you need to make a decision.
- Gathering of evidence
If you do wish to pursue a dental negligence claim, just let us know. You’ll be assigned to one of our specialist dental negligence solicitors, who will get started straight away, looking into your case in greater detail.
This will involve gathering evidence to support your claim, such as your dental and medical records, establishing the extent of pain and suffering experienced, and calculating a fair level of compensation. We’ll also see if there’s anything we can do to help with your immediate needs (e.g. arranging further dental treatment).
- Contacting the party responsible
Once the necessary evidence has been collected, your dental negligence solicitor will share this information with the party responsible (i.e. the dental treatment setting). If liability is accepted, we can then apply for interim compensation payments.
- Negotiating a final settlement
Lastly, we’ll negotiate with the defendant until a satisfactory figure has been reached. Compensation is then typically paid within 2-4 weeks.
From the initial paperwork to the point at which the money appears in your bank account, we do all the hard work for you. Leave your dental claim in our capable hands and, whilst you focus on your recovery, we’ll focus on securing the financial justice you deserve for the sub-par treatment received.
Will I have to go to court?
If responsibility is denied, court proceedings may sometimes be necessary – but this is very rare. In fact, less than 5% of all personal injury and clinical negligence cases end up in the courtroom. And typically, these tend to be the most complex cases, such as extremely serious instances of negligence and life-changing or fatal injuries.
Here at Injury Lawyers Direct, we always treat the court as a last resort.
We’ll negotiate with the defending party and, following an informal discussion, an official compensation offer will usually be made in writing. But if not – and we’re forced to begin court proceedings – rest assured, we’ll be on hand to support and guide you through the process, ensuring you know exactly what to expect.
Can I still claim if dental negligence occurred abroad?
Absolutely. All dental and healthcare professionals have a ‘duty of care’ to their patients – no matter where in the world they’re currently practising.
Whether you received negligent dental treatment on holiday, whilst working and living abroad, or even if you visited that country specifically to receive the treatment (i.e. dental tourism). If you’ve experienced dental negligence or suffered a dental error, which worsened your symptoms or led to a new injury, you may be entitled to compensation.
International dental claims can be slightly more complicated than UK-based claims.
For example, it will usually be made in the country where the negligence occurred – therefore it’s subject to the law of that specific location. Time limits also vary from country to country. Here in the UK, you have 3 years from the point of dental malpractice. But in some parts of the world, this timeframe can be much shorter.
But you shouldn’t let these factors put you off seeking financial justice. If anything, it just means it’s even more important to have a specialist dental negligence solicitor on your side – and to make sure you contact them as soon as possible.
Give us a call today on 0800 110 5888.
