Hospital Abuse Claims Solicitors

Technically speaking, claims are supposed to be made within three years of the abuse taking place, but sometimes this deadline can be extended by the courts. That’s because the UK legal system implicitly recognises how difficult it can be for survivors to come forward, especially if they’ve been threatened by their abuser.

Survivors may have to deal with one or more of the following:

• Fear of not being believed
• Feelings of shame or guilt
• Fear of the abuser, especially after intimidation or explicit threats of violence
• Difficulty in articulating the nature or scale of the abuse
• Trying to protect family or loved ones (or even the abuser themselves)
• Feelings of powerlessness
• Suppression of the memories of the abuse
• Struggles with the psychological impact of the abuse

If any of this sounds like something that you or a loved one has experienced – or are currently experiencing – then we’re here to help at Farleys.

It’s not unusual for cases to be won years or even decades after the abuse took place. However, even though the timescales can be flexible in some cases, it’s worth noting that ideally legal proceedings should begin as soon as possible after the abuse comes to light, as that makes it easier for investigators to gather key evidence that might be in danger of being relocated, lost or destroyed over time.

Yes. Opening up to a stranger about your experiences can be an incredibly difficult conversation, and one that we know can’t happen unless we’re able to prove to you that you can trust us. Therefore, we treat everything you tell us in the strictest confidence until you tell us that you’re ready to proceed. Equally, we’ll make sure that all documents in connection with your case are treated as classified.

If it’s necessary for us to enlist any outside experts for the progression of your case, such as psychologists, or representatives from hospitals, police or social services, we’ll always ask your permission first, and wait for your go-ahead before we get in touch with them.

Our process for hospital abuse claims follows the same general structure as all of the abuse claims we handle here at Farleys, although obviously the specifics can vary depending on the nature and background of your individual case.

To give you a bit more detail, our general process for hospital abuse claims is as follows:

• A free case assessment with one of our expert solicitors, so that we can give you an assessment of your claim’s chances of success. We appreciate that this initial conversation can be incredibly difficult, so we always make sure to prioritise your comfort and safety throughout.
• Allocation to a specialist who will handle your case. Once your case has been allocated, your personal solicitor will act as your main point of contact, and they’ll make sure that the details of your case are not shared with anyone else unless absolutely necessary.
• Collection of evidence. As you might expect, this is the most critical phase, and as such it can also be the most complex and time-consuming. Sometimes, we may consider soliciting the input of outside experts like a psychologist or psychiatrist, if we believe it could be beneficial to your case. However, we’ll only do this with your express permission, and you can count on us to be here to support you throughout.
• Tally of compensation amount. For many of our clients, their case isn’t about the money, but rather about getting justice and closure. We understand that here at Farleys, but equally we know that the right compensation amount can be vital in helping you get access to the support you need to properly move on with your life. For that reason alone, we take care to focus on securing you an amount that properly reflects the gravity of your case.
• Settling your claim. Once we have all the relevant evidence to hand, we’ll be ready to bring your case against the person or party responsible. Rest assured that you’ll never have to interact with your abuser directly, and indeed most cases are resolved long before they go to court – but either way, we’ll be here to help you every step of the way.

We will advise you on funding for your claim. We are often able to bring such cases on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis.

Some abuse survivors will qualify for public funding. Farleys Solicitors holds a Legal Aid franchise in five of our offices and we can advise you as to whether you will qualify.

Farleys’ abuse claim solicitors can help you claim for:

• Care requirements, present and future
• Loss of earnings, present and future
• Medication
• Physical injury
• Psychological trauma
• Other treatment costs