Cauda Equina Syndrome Claims

Cauda Equina Syndrome can result in a number of serious effects for your long-term health, including severe pain in the back and legs, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, numbness or weakness in both legs or, in the worst cases, paralysis. The condition is commonly misdiagnosed, which can have devastating consequences as immediate treatment is required to minimise any lasting impact.

If you believe your Cauda Equina Syndrome was treated negligently resulting in long-term complications, you may be able to claim compensation. Achieving a fair outcome in these types of claims can be challenging, however, so expert legal advice and representation is needed to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

Wolferstans’ medical negligence solicitors have strong experience in Cauda Equina claims, having helped clients across England and Wales to receive millions of pounds in compensation over the years.

The diligence and tenacity of our team means we will ensure no detail is missed and that your claim is presented in the strongest way possible. With particular skill in non-confrontational dispute resolution, we can usually resolve claims outside of a court, getting a result for you faster and at lower cost.

Crucially, our specific experience with Cauda Equina claims allows us to provide a highly accurate valuation for your claim. This means you can be confident that you will not make the mistake of settling for less than you may be truly entitled to – something that can be a risk when working with less experienced firms.

We offer a free initial no obligation consultation during which we will be able to tell you if you have a claim worth investigating further.

To arrange your consultation please contact the new client team on 01752 292204

Our Cauda Equina negligence claims service

Our medical negligence lawyers support clients all over England and Wales with Cauda Equina compensation claims, including those related to:

Misdiagnosis and late diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome
Failure to order appropriate diagnostic tests for Cauda Equina Syndrome
Failure to correctly interpret the results of diagnostic tests
Failure to admit a patient to hospital after visiting A&E
Surgical negligence
Negligent surgical aftercare
Post-surgical infections

How Cauda Equina claims work

Our clinical negligence lawyers aim to make the process of claiming compensation for negligent treatment of Cauda Equina Syndrome as simple and straightforward as possible for you.

A typical Cauda Equina negligence claim will involve:

Building your case e.g. applying for medical records, collecting witness evidence and consulting independent medical experts.
Contacting the relevant healthcare provider with the details of your claim.
Ensuring the defendant responds to your claim in a timely fashion.
Assessing the defendant’s response and advising you of your options.
Negotiating with the defendant and/or using alternative dispute resolution (ADR), such as mediation or independent evaluation, to secure a suitable settlement.
Submitting your claim to the relevant court and representing you at a court hearing where required to resolve the matter.

Find out more about the process of making a clinical negligence claim.

Funding a Cauda Equina compensation claim

For most of our clients, a ‘no win, no fee’ Cauda Equina claim is likely to be the best option, allowing you to bring a claim without having to worry about find the money up front for fees and legal expenses.

With this type of funding deal, formally known as a ‘conditional fee agreement’, you will only need to contribute towards your legal costs if we secure compensation for you. The amount you pay will then be based on a percentage of the compensation won, giving you complete transparency and ensuring you get the maximum benefit from any compensation secured.

Legal expenses insurance can also be an option for funding a Cauda Equina negligence claim. This is frequently offered as an optional extra with home insurance, as well as some bank accounts and credit cards, so may be worth considering if available.

The important thing is to realise that, as long as we believe your claim has a reasonable chance of success, we will find a funding option that works for you.

To discuss your options for covering the cost of a Cauda Equina negligence claim, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Find out more about funding a medical negligence claim.

Our expertise in Cauda Equina compensation claims

We are highly experienced in Cauda Equina negligence claims, having helped our clients to recover millions of pounds in compensation over the years. With a reputation as one of the UK’s leading medical negligence law firms, we have the expertise to achieve a fair outcome for even the most complex claims.

Wolferstans is accredited by the Law Society for Clinical Negligence, recognising our particular expertise in this area. We are also Lexcel accredited by the Law Society for excellence in legal practice management and client care.

Wolferstans is accredited by the SIA (Spinal Injuries Association) in recognition of our expertise in handling spinal injury claims.

Various members of our medical negligence team are also on the Law Society and AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents) Specialist Clinical Negligence Panels and have been accredited by APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) as Clinical Negligence Specialists and Brain Injury Specialists.

Common questions about Cauda Equina claims

Generally, you will have 3 years from the time medical negligence occurs to bring a claim.

However, the time limit can vary depending on the circumstances and knowing whether the relevant time limit has expired is often complicated, meaning it is always worth speaking to a specialist medical negligence lawyer, no matter how much time has passed.

Different time limits may apply where:

You only find out about the medical negligence later – The 3-year time limit may then be counted from when you became aware, rather than when the negligence occurred.
The claimant was under 18 at the time – Their parents or guardians will than have until they turn 18 to bring a claim. If they do not do so, the claimant can bring their own claim once they turn 18, but before they turn 21.
The person who received the negligent treatment cannot bring a claim themselves – If they lack capacity to bring a claim, there is no time limit for someone to bring a claim for them.

The compensation you are entitled to will be valued depending on the severity of your Cauda Equina Syndrome and the impact this is having on your life.

You will typically be eligible for two types of compensation:

Special damages – Compensating you for specific financial losses incurred up to the date of settlement. This can include things such as the cost of treatment and buying special equipment, as well as lost earnings if you have had to give up work.

General damages – Compensating you for non-financial losses, such as pain and suffering and changes to your lifestyle, plus any financial losses and expenses you are likely to experience in the future due to your Cauda Equina Syndrome.

For a successful Cauda Equina Syndrome compensation claim, we will typically need to demonstrate two key points:

That the treatment you received fell below medical acceptable standards i.e. that a competent doctor/nurse etc. would not have acted the same way under the same circumstances.
That the medical negligence directly led to, or worsened, your Cauda Equina Syndrome.

Proving your Cauda Equina Syndrome was the result of medical negligence will usually rely on various types of evidence, including:

Your medical records
Witness evidence
Evidence given by independent medical experts

Further information about Cauda Equina Syndrome negligence claims

For more information about Cauda Equina compensation claims and all types of medical negligence claims, please take a look at our news, blogs and our series of helpful leaflets covering specific issues.

Start a Cauda Equina compensation claim with us today

To arrange a free initial no obligation consultation and find out more about starting a Cauda Equina negligence claim: