Professional Negligence Lawyers FAQs - What is Professional Negligence?
Professional negligence occurs when a professional adviser does something that a reasonable adviser in a similar professional position wouldn’t have done – and which results in a financial loss to you.
Proving such negligence is a question of fact and is assessed on each individual case.
Proving that the negligence actually caused the loss can be complicated. If you think you have suffered professional negligence, contact a specialist Professional Negligence Lawyer as soon as possible.
Who can I claim against?
You can bring a negligence claim against any professional person or body, which offered you a service or advice.
What can I claim for?
Damages for professional negligence are intended to put you back into the position you would have been in if the negligence had not occurred.
Often it's difficult to put a value on your claim immediately; it usually requires investigation and you may need an expert witness to establish the value of your loss.
Whatever your loss, our Professional Negligence Lawyers will carry out a cost assessment to ensure your case is worth pursuing – and will work with you to ensure you receive what you are entitled to.
What can’t I claim for?
You cannot bring a claim against a professional just because you are unhappy with their advice or service – unless it's actually been negligent and you suffered a loss as a result. Customer service issues are not grounds for professional negligence claims.
How do I prove my loss?
Most loss caused by professional negligence is financial. Therefore it is important to keep copies of any invoices, emails, contracts and correspondence as evidence.
To succeed in your claim, you will need to show that:
- the professional was negligent; and
- you suffered financial loss: and
- your financial loss resulted from that professional negligence
For example, X buys a property which had been valued by an estate agent at £500,000 due to negligent advice from a surveyor. A subsequent estimate from the same estate agent in light of the correct information (i.e. without the negligent advice) shows the property is worth just £400,000. These valuations would be used to show X suffered a loss of £100,000 due to professional negligence.
Do I have to go to court?
Our Professional Negligence Lawyers will always explore every avenue of negotiation before going to court – and will advise you on the availability of other ways of trying to reach a settlement, including mediation. It is normally in both party’s interests to seek an out of court settlement to avoid unnecessary legal costs. In any event, our dedicated team will negotiate and litigate to ensure you receive exactly what you are entitled to.
Contact our Professional Negligence Lawyers today
Wherever you are in the UK, if you think you may have a professional negligence claim, contact our expert Lawyers. We can take your instructions either by e-mail or phone, or face-to-face at one of our offices in Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset.
For a FREE first consultation, call our Professional Negligence Lawyers on