Dealing with the aftermath of negligence can be incredibly challenging, especially when it affects your mental and physical health. At Farleys, we understand the intricate nature of these circumstances and are committed to helping you get the justice you deserve.
Everyone deserves access to reliable legal advice, especially during challenging times. That’s precisely what we offer the Blackburn community from our branch on Richmond Terrace. Our compassionate solicitors specialise in dental negligence and are dedicated to supporting you, providing expert guidance on the best course of action. We understand the challenges you’re navigating, so you can rely on our expert team to support you throughout the entire process.
What is Dental Negligence?
Dental negligence, sometimes known as dental malpractice, is defined as any instance in which a patient has suffered adverse effects on their physical health or overall well-being as a result of insufficient or improper dental care.
Dental negligence in Blackburn can result from a number of different scenarios, such as through direct action or inaction on the part of your dentist or healthcare professional, for instance, a poorly performed or inappropriate procedure that worsens your dental condition or causes new issues. A delay in your treatment that was not necessary, resulting in your conditions worsening unnecessarily, is also a form of dental malpractice.
Some more specific instances of dental negligence cases our solicitors can help you with include:
- Root canals leading to nerve injuries, including the unnecessary severing of nerves
- Failed fillings causing pain that may even lead to the need for further treatment
- Tooth extractions (including wisdom tooth removals) where nerves and gums are damaged, or even in rare cases, the wrong tooth gets extracted
- Failed implant treatment, or implant treatment that has caused damage to your mouth or jaw bone
- Cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as the fitting of veneers, implants, bridges and teeth whitening gone wrong
- Misdiagnosis
- Delayed or missed diagnosis
- Failed diagnosis (including periodontitis and oral cancer misdiagnosis)
- Inadequate radiology or imaging
- Informed consent issues such as failing to obtain consent, sufficiently explain the risks and benefits of treatment, provide a treatment plan, preventative or oral hygiene advice, etc.
The nature of these shortcomings or mistakes means that the consequences of dental negligence can often be harrowing and frequently have an effect on the patient’s quality of life.
If, as a result of negligence on the part of your dentist, you’ve had to cover extra expenses that would have otherwise not been necessary, like paying for additional dental work to fix a problem or you’ve had to take time off work, you may be able to include these expenses in your claim and receive appropriate compensation.
Can I make a claim against my dentist in Blackburn?
If you have cause to believe that your dentist has acted negligently and in a way that has had a direct impact on your physical health or overall well-being, you will be able to make a claim against them. If this negligence occurred in a private practice, your claim will be brought against them directly. If the incident occurred in an NHS facility, you’ll be bringing a claim against the specific NHS trust that manages it.
Dental negligence claims in Blackburn can be made against general dentistry practitioners, as well as dental specialists such as endodontists or orthodontists. Here at Farleys, our Blackburn dental negligence claims solicitors can help you work out your eligibility for a claim while guiding you through each stage of the process to make it as simple and stress-free for you as possible.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Dental Negligence Claim?
Typically, you have three years to make a claim for dental negligence in Blackburn starting from the date that the negligence occurred or from the ‘date of knowledge’. This is a legal term that refers to the earliest point at which you became aware that there was a problem with your physical health or overall well-being.
After these three years have passed, you will no longer be able to bring a claim, which is why it’s important to act quickly. We understand that this can be incredibly difficult to do if you are still dealing with the fallout of your situation, but rest assured that we will go the extra mile to ensure that the process is as seamless and stress-free as possible for you.
To make your case as strong as possible, it’s important to provide as much supporting evidence as you can. Here are some examples of what that might include:
- Dental records
- Statements from witnesses
- A second opinion from another expert
- Relevant photos, such as those showing your injuries
- Financial records
It’s important to keep in mind that in certain situations, another medical professional with the same or higher level of expertise may be consulted to provide their expert opinion and assess the work of your dentist. Even with all the necessary evidence, this process can still be complex and incredibly time-consuming. That’s why, if you reside in Blackburn and believe that you have a case of dental negligence, we encourage you to get in touch with our solicitors as soon as possible.
