Callers to our free medical accident helpline often ask, ‘Can I claim compensation for an ambulance delay?’ Our medical negligence team takes a look at the legal position.
If you are looking for experienced legal guidance on making an ambulance delay compensation claim on a No Win – No Fee basis then our Legal 500 recommended team is here to help. Call our free helpline for a case review on 0333 888 0412 or send an email to info@medicalaccidentlawyers.co.uk
The short answer is that you can claim compensation for an ambulance delay in England and Wales where that delay results in you suffering harm or injury.
The legal basis for recovering compensation for an ambulance delay is primarily grounded in the principles of negligence. The ambulance service can be held liable for ‘negligence’ if it fails to arrive within a reasonable time after accepting a call.
The courts will treat the ambulance service as being part of the national health service, and impose on it a duty that is similar to the duty of care owed to patients by hospitals and doctors.
A causative link must be established between the delay in the ambulance’s arrival and your subsequent harm (physical or psychological). Once established then the court can award compensation for the injury caused by the delay.
The degree to which a patient’s condition has been exacerbated or made worse by the ambulance delay can sometimes be challenging. Delayed medical treatment cases often involve multiple causes, and expert evidence may be required to establish the precise degree to which your injuries are due to the delay, rather than unrelated causes. Once this is established then the ambulance service will be typically liable to compensate you for the additional harm suffered due to their negligence.
So, the answer to the question, ‘Can I claim compensation for an ambulance delay?’ is that you can do so, provided the ambulance service breached its duty by failing to arrive within a reasonable time, and that their delay has directly caused you physical or psychological injury.
To find our exactly where you stand on recovering compensation, contact our free medical accident helpline. We will review your case free of charge and provide you with details of our popular no win, no fee funding scheme.
Read our case study about how an ambulance delay resulted in the death of a young student.
What our clients say about us
We have over 1,200 reviews and an overall five-star rating on the independent legal review website, ReviewSolicitors.
Here is just a short selection of some of the reviews that our clients have left for our clinical negligence team:
Maddy Lawrence
“With the premature death of our eldest daughter, as it turned out, by clinical negligence, we were facing a very difficult journey both in proving fault and keeping heart and soul together. That we were able to, in terms of the fault element, was down to our professional legal team. They provided clear, calm and compassionate advice which got us through a horrendous inquest and subsequent legal maneuverers. They, in short, were magnificent and we are extremely grateful that we had them on our side.”
Great firm!
“I had an experience with Oliver Thorne who was nothing but helpful with settling my claim. He was very patient and professional as well as making sure I was happy and content throughout the whole process! Would highly recommend him if you’re looking for a solicitor!”
Compassionate, thorough, and outstanding legal support thus far
”Jade was incredibly friendly, taking the time to ask all the right questions and thoroughly investigate our case. Unlike previous solicitors, who dismissed us, Jade and the team at Slee Blackwell delved deeper and gave us renewed hope. We are extremely grateful for the dedication and professionalism in fighting for us. I would recommend Slee Blackwell to anyone in need of legal assistance.”
Mesh claim
“I cannot thank the team enough there understanding and empathy and the knowledge is outstanding. Caroline has been supportive every step of the way, she has informed me and kept me updated how the claim has progressed she has also had great understanding around my mental health and the physical damage I have occurred. I cannot thank the team enough. The team made this experience easier for me to deal with my emotional distress and pain.”
Thank you
“On behalf of all of us, we would like to thank you for your guidance, professionalism, humanity and kindness you have shown us all throughout this process. You have explained everything to us in clear and concise terms throughout and we are extremely grateful. We would have no hesitation recommending you and using your services in future. Thank you.”
Exceptional Service
“I have received expert advice throughout my case, the attention to detail is second to none. Their professional outlook and relatability means that I always recommend the firm. When I was unclear of any information or possible outcomes they took the time to speak with me on a personal level, confirming our conversation through email, I feel supported and understood and most of all they are empathetic, something that is often missing from large firms.”
Friendly, professional, knowledgeable.
“Oliver assisted me in the aftermath of my father’s sudden death in hospital. He helped me to draught my initial letter of complaint to the health authority, represented me and my mother at the inquest and ultimately succeeded in bringing a successful claim. I always felt I could approach Oliver with any questions and he would explain the legal processes in an understandable way. I would not hesitate to recommend him should anyone find themselves in a similar unfortunate position.”
Excellent solicitor
“I cannot recommend this firm highly enough and especially Caroline who is professional approachable and thorough, she works tirelessly and is a real credit to the firm, you are not made to feel like just a number as with other firms, it’s a pleasure to have such an excellent solicitor to represent you when you have gone through so much she is so understanding and knowledgeable.”