Professional Negligence Solicitors in Leeds

If a qualified individual fails to perform the duties expected of them and their profession, you may have observed these signs:

• Failure to follow established standards
• Inadequate or incorrect advice
• Omissions or delays in action
• Failure to warn about risks
• Lack of proper documentation or communication
• Conflict of interest
• Errors in professional judgement
• Lack of qualifications or competence

Negligence is a legal concept involving a duty of care, which is breached financial loss, which can lead to a legal claim.

Poor service refers to unsatisfactory behaviour – like delays or poor communication – that may be frustrating but doesn’t usually result in legal liability unless it causes real damage or loss. Poor service can turn into negligence if it leads to measurable loss.

You need to show that:

1. A duty of care existed – the professional owed you a legal obligation to act with reasonable skill and care.
2. They breached that duty – their actions or omissions fell below the standard expected of a competent professional in their field.
3. The breach caused you loss or damage – there is a direct link between the breach and the harm you suffered.
4. The loss was foreseeable – the harm was a predictable consequence of their breach.

This involves gathering evidence such as expert opinions, documents, correspondence and records from the underlying papers, to demonstrate how the professional’s conduct deviated from accepted industry standards.

The purpose of compensatory damages is intended to put you back in the position you would have been if the negligence hadn’t occurred. These include:

• Economic losses: Direct financial losses like costs incurred, lost profits or additional expenses caused by the professional’s breach.
• Indirect losses: Losses that flow naturally from the negligence, such as lost business opportunities.
• Costs of rectification: Expenses needed to fix the problem caused by the professional’s error.
• Interest and legal costs: Sometimes, you may recover interest on the damages and reasonable legal fees.

You generally won’t be compensated for any pain and suffering or emotional distress in professional negligence claims unless there is a related personal injury.

At your first consultation, our professional negligence solicitors in Leeds will listen to your account of what happened to understand your situation and determine if negligence may have occurred.

If we believe you have a valid claim, we’ll ask if you want to move forward. Many of our cases are handled on a No Win No Fee basis, where there’s no financial risk to you if the claim is unsuccessful.

Your case will then be assigned to one of our specialist solicitors, who will begin a thorough investigation. This involves reviewing the documents from the underlying case and may includes consulting independent experts and before preparing a formal Letter of Claim to the professional involved.

We’ll manage every stage of the process and keep you informed throughout. Our solicitors focus on carefully reviewing the details and uncovering any missing information. While most cases settle without going to court, we’re fully prepared to take your claim to trial if needed.

Yes. You should contact professional negligence solicitors as soon as you become aware of the problem. Professional negligence claims must be commenced with the courts within six years of when the negligence occurred. This six-year timeframe is known as the primary limitation period and is set out in the Limitation Act 1980, which governs time limits for different types of claims.

The two limitation periods for professional negligence claims include:

• Primary limitation period: You generally need to bring your claim within six years. This period allows you to rely on evidence that may emerge even years after the incident.
• Secondary limitation period: If the initial six years have passed but you have only recently become aware of the loss/damage then you may be able to rely on an additional three year period known as Date of Knowledge. Our team of solicitors can advise you if this applies to your case.

Not necessarily. Many professional negligence disputes are resolved without going to court through methods like:

• Negotiation or direct settlement between the parties
• Joint Settlement Meeting, where both parties meet to discuss the case and attempt to reach an agreement
• Mediation, where an independent third party helps reach an agreement
• Arbitration, a more formal private process where an arbitrator decides the outcome

Court proceedings usually happen only if these alternatives fail or the parties cannot agree. Going to court can be time-consuming and costly, so professionals and clients often prefer to settle disputes out of court where possible. Even if court proceedings are commenced, the above options still remain and commonly take place while proceedings are under way and lead to a successful conclusion.