You trusted the expert, you paid their fees, followed their advice, and expected results. Instead, you’re left with stress, frustration, and a financial mess to sort out. If this sounds familiar, you might have grounds for a professional negligence claim.
At Thomas Harvey Solicitors, we help clients hold professionals accountable when they don’t work to the standard expected of them. This blog covers what professional negligence is, identifying a case, and the steps you can take.
What Is Professional Negligence?
Professional negligence occurs when a professional fails to meet the expected standard, causing you to suffer a loss.
It’s more than just a mistake, it’s when a professional doesn’t meet the standard of care they’re legally required to provide.
Here are just a few situations where professional negligence claims can arise:
- You relied on your solicitor to handle everything, but they missed an important court deadline, and your claim ended up being struck out.
- You paid for a professional survey before buying your home, only to later discover serious structural issues the surveyor should have spotted, leaving you with costly repairs.
- You followed your accountant’s advice on your tax return, but it turned out to be wrong, and now you’re facing penalties from HMRC.
- You trusted your financial advisor’s recommendations, but the investments they suggested weren’t right for you, and you’ve suffered significant losses as a result.
These aren’t just unfortunate events, they may be legal grounds for compensation.
What are the Common Misconceptions?
“They didn’t break the law, so there’s nothing I can do.”
Legal wrongdoing isn’t the only standard. Failing to meet the expected level of care and skill in a profession can still be considered negligence.
“It was just poor service, it’s not worth making a fuss about.”
If poor service has cost you money, you may have grounds for a valid claim.
“It’s probably too late to do anything now.”
You may have more time than you think. In many cases, you have six years from the date of negligence and/or breach of contract to make a claim. This limit can be extended by three years from when you became aware of the negligence.
If you think you may have a Professional Negligence claim and need legal assistance, call us on 0333 004 0272 or fill out our contact form here.
