Blacktown Hospital Medical Negligence Compensation Claim Solicitors
Medical negligence in Australia accounts for 20,000 fatalities and 50,000 serious injuries every year. These statistics are amongst the worst in the developed world. Blacktown Hospital in Sydney usually provides a caring service for their patients however there are times when things go wrong. If you have been injured as a result of erroneous treatment by Blacktown Hospital you may be able to claim compensation for personal injury. Our specialist solicitors offer free advice with no further obligation on no win no fee personal injury compensation claims. If you would like to speak to a clinical negligence lawyer just call the helpline, complete and send the contact form or email our offices. We will advise on the liability of Blacktown Hospital and will estimate the likely award of damages in the event of a successful outcome.
Standard of Care & Negligence
There is no statutory standard of care to guide healthcare professionals who are expected to reach a 'reasonable' standard of care if they are to avoid allegations of medical negligence. Doctors, nurses and technicians behaviour is compared to that of a 'reasonably competent' healthcare professional who is treating patients with a similar illness in a similar location. The mere fact that a particular treatment fails does not necessarily imply that the treatment was negligent even though alternative treatment may have succeeded provided that the failed treatment which was chosen was logical and is supported by a substantial body of medical opinion.
Compensation Awards
Damages payable in a Blacktown Hospital medical negligence compensation claim include the following items :-
- pain & suffering
- out of pocket expenses
- care and assistance including household chores
- loss of past & future earnings including pension rights
- legal charges
- special care aids, prosthetics & equipment
- adapted accommodation
- disadvantage on the open labour market
- loss of lifestyle and congenial employment
- continuing medical expenses
- adapted transport & travel expenses
Time Limits & Statute of Limitation
All legal process in the courts is subject to time limits. Failure to abide by the time limits in a personal injury compensation claim usually means that the opportunity to damages is lost forever. The reason for the imposition of time limits is because memories fade, witnesses die or relocate and cannot be traced, documents are lost and computer records become corrupted. In addition it is only fair that potential litigants be allowed to move on with lives after the passage of a reasonable amount of time without the threat of future litigation hanging over them forever.