Stillbirth Negligence Compensation Claims South Wales

After you learn that you are pregnant, you will understandably put your full trust in medical professionals to keep you and your baby safe. If a mistake occurs, the consequences can be devastating. In some cases, it can result in the loss of your baby to stillbirth.

If you have experienced stillbirth that was the result of medical negligence, our expert stillbirth negligence solicitors in South Wales can work with you to make a claim for compensation.

While compensation cannot undo what has already happened, it can provide you and your loved ones with the opportunity to rebuild your lives and move forward with confidence.

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Why Choose Devonalds for your stillbirth claim in South Wales?

At Devonalds, our team have established a strong track record of successfully supporting individuals and their families in Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taff. This has allowed us to develop a strong connection with the community we serve.

We make sure to carefully tailor our service to your individual requirements and will always be open to answering any questions you might have about the claims process. No matter your circumstances, we want to ensure you fully understand your position and the steps that need to be taken to secure compensation.

Wherever it is possible and appropriate to do so, our stillbirth negligence solicitors in South Wales will look to secure compensation without the need for court proceedings, instead relying on methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution and negotiation. These methods can be highly effective and save you the time, stress and expense of court processes.

However, if it is not possible to resolve your matter in this way, we can offer robust litigation skills to support you in court.

Speak to us today about starting a stillbirth compensation claim

For a friendly, informal discussion about whether you are entitled to make a stillbirth claim in South Wales, please get in touch with your local Devonalds team in Bridgend, Caerphilly, Church Village, Pontypridd, Talbot Green, Tonypandy, Treorchy or Tylorstown.

How claiming compensation for stillbirth negligence works

Starting a claim for stillbirth negligence

Before you consider launching a claim for stillbirth or pregnancy negligence, your solicitor will provide information on the likely outcome and the amount of compensation you could receive.

Our team provide a free preliminary meeting to advise you on your claim, along with general information about the processes you will undergo. We want to make sure that you feel completely at ease before making a claim, ensuring that it is the right choice for you.

No win, no fee birth negligence claims

We offer Conditional Fee Agreements, otherwise known as ‘no win, no fee deals’ for stillbirth negligence. This means that you can avoid any financial risk if you do intend to make a claim for still birth negligence.

Our legal fees only apply if we are successful in claiming compensation for you, with no upfront fees to worry about. Should your claim be unsuccessful, you will not owe us anything.

Even where your claim is successful, your legal fees can be covered by the defendant, protecting you from additional expenses.

Proving that stillbirth negligence has occurred

To make a stillbirth negligence claim, it needs to be shown that the medical provider that was responsible for your care was negligent in their actions and that the level of care you received fell below expected standards.

To build an effective claim, our team will gather various types of evidence, such as:

• Testimonials from medical experts
• Medical records, including risk assessments
• Any relevant testimonies from witnesses

Our stillbirth negligence solicitors will use their expertise and knowledge to collect relevant evidence to support your claim, presenting it in a way that gives you the best chance of success.

We have substantial experience in working on stillbirth negligence claims in South Wales and will be on hand to answer any questions you may have promptly.

Valuing your stillbirth negligence claim

The level of compensation you may be able to access for stillbirth negligence will ultimately depend on the circumstances of the case and your needs.

Compensation can cover:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of amenity
• Loss of earnings – should you need to take time off work
• Counselling and therapy costs
• Funeral costs
• Travel costs
• Any other expenses relating to your loss

Time limits for stillbirth compensation claims

The standard time limit for stillbirth compensation claims is three years. This is from the date of death or the date when you were aware negligence occurred (or could have been reasonably aware that it occurred).

Reaching an out-of-court settlement

At Devonalds, our stillbirth negligence solicitors have excellent skills in both Alternative Dispute Resolution and negotiation, which we use to secure out of court settlements wherever possible. This helps our clients to access compensation faster, while also avoiding the stress of having to attend court.

Taking your stillbirth claim to court

There may be a scenario where it is not possible to reach an out of court settlement. If this is the case, we can support you during the necessary Court proceedings, making sure that you were well prepared and understand exactly how your case is progressing.

We understand that the prospect of attending Court can be extremely daunting, especially after experiencing such a traumatic event. As such, you can be sure that our solicitors will offer compassionate support and reduce the stress you are facing as far as possible.

Common questions about stillbirth negligence claims

What is negligence in pregnancy?

Pregnancy negligence refers to any ante or neonatal care that is below the expected standard. Often, this substandard care can result in injury to both mothers and babies – including stillbirth and miscarriage.

What is classed as a stillbirth?

A stillbirth is where a baby is born dead after 24 weeks of pregnancy. This differs from a miscarriage or late foetal loss, which occurs before these 24 weeks.

Can you sue for stillbirth?

It may be possible to sue for stillbirth if it can be shown that negligence medical care was the cause, or heavily contributed to, the death.

It is possible to bring forward a claim against the medical professional who was responsible for the death or the hospital where the incident occurred.

What can cause stillbirth?

There are a wide range of potential causes for stillbirth. Examples of these include:

• Pregnancy or labour complications (e.g. preterm labour)
• Problems with the placenta (e.g. insufficient blood flow to the placenta)
• Birth defects
• Infection
• Problems with the umbilical cord
• High blood pressure
• Medical complications in the mother

While some of the issues may be out of anyone’s control, they can also be caused by medical negligence. In some cases, these issues should also be spotted at an early stage and handled accordingly. If they are not, this can also amount to medical negligence.

Examples of medical negligence that can cause medical negligence include:

• Missing symptoms of misinterpreting test results in antenatal appointments
• Not providing regular check-ups during pregnancy
• Not treating symptoms quickly enough or treating them incorrectly
• Failing to pass on unusual test results to a specialist consultant

What is the death rate for stillbirths?

Birth injuries are, unfortunately, fairly common.

The UK government set out a clear safety goal to reduce the rates of neonatal and maternal death and stillbirth in half by 2025, with significant progress already being made.

The general birth injury rate fell to 4.2 for every 1,000 births in 2019 from a previous rate of 4.7 in 2014. Meanwhile, the 2020 rate for stillbirths is 3.8 stillbirths for every 1,000 births.

This figure is short of the overall target for 2015, which is 2.6 stillbirths per 1,000 births.

How do I make a stillbirth compensation claim?

If you have experienced a stillbirth that was caused by medical negligence, you will likely have the right to bring forward a claim for stillbirth negligence compensation.

The first step to making a stillbirth claim is to get in touch with our expert stillbirth negligence solicitors.

Our team at Devonalds have substantial experience and expertise in supporting anyone who has experienced a stillbirth due to negligence. When instructed, we can carefully review your case and determine whether you will have a viable case to claim stillbirth compensation.

If we believe that you will have a case, we can then support you by gathering evidence and moving your claim through all of the appropriate legal stages.

Speak to us today about starting a stillbirth compensation claim

For a friendly, informal discussion about whether you are entitled to make a stillbirth claim in South Wales, please get in touch with your local Devonalds team in Bridgend, Caerphilly, Church Village, Pontypridd, Talbot Green, Tonypandy, Treorchy or Tylorstown.