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Sepsis Medical Negligence Claims

Sepsis affects hundreds of thousands of people each year in the UK and the results can be life-changing for you and your loved ones. In many cases sepsis is a result of mistakes in diagnosis or treatment or a lack of appropriate care from medical professionals.

At Wolferstans, we understand how distressing this can be. Our priority is to offer you clear, straightforward guidance and support you at every step, helping you seek the answers and compensation you deserve.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a serious medical condition that can develop when an infection triggers a harmful response in the body, leading to inflammation, tissue damage, and potentially life-threatening complications. It requires urgent medical attention, as delays in diagnosis or treatment can result in long-term harm or even loss of life.

It is a relatively common problem, with nearly quarter of a million people suffering from sepsis in the UK each year. Around 1 in 5 instances of sepsis result in death, which is the equivalent of five deaths per hour. Globally there are 11 million deaths each year from sepsis.

Am I at risk of sepsis?

Sepsis can affect anyone who’s had an injury or minor infection, but some people are more vulnerable to sepsis than others. Those include:

  • Anyone with a weakened immune system due to a medical condition or the result of specific medical treatment.
  • People with a serious illness who are already in hospital
  • Anyone who is either very young or very old
  • Patients recovering from surgery or those with wounds and injuries from an accident.

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

Sepsis usually develops from an infection somewhere in the body, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) but can also be the result of severe bed sores, not healing quickly from surgery, or any intravenous lines not being properly cared for.

The symptoms can vary but the Sepsis Trust set out an easy way to remember the main symptoms:

  • Slurred speech or confusion
  • Extreme shivering or muscle pain
  • Passing no urine (in a day)
  • Severe breathlessness
  • It feels like you’re going to die
  • Skin mottled or discoloured

In children, additional warning signs may include:

  • A high-pitched or weak cry
  • Sleeping more than usual or being difficult to wake
  • Struggling to breathe

It’s important to seek medical assistance if you’re concerned about any of these symptoms. If medical professionals don’t act quickly enough or delay any treatment, the results could be fatal.

Can I claim compensation for sepsis?

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers have a duty to recognise and treat sepsis quickly. When this doesn’t happen, and their mistakes cause unnecessary harm, it may be a case of medical negligence. Examples include:

  • Overlooking obvious symptoms or failing to consider sepsis as a possible diagnosis
  • Ignoring abnormal test results or not performing essential investigations
  • Delaying antibiotics or other life-saving treatments
  • Discharging a patient without adequate aftercare

If you feel that errors like these played a part in your case, you may have grounds to make a claim.

Who can make a sepsis compensation claim?

If you or a loved one has suffered from the effects of sepsis, it might be possible to make a sepsis negligence claim. These can be brought by:

  • Anyone who has suffered due to delayed or inadequate treatment
  • Families who have lost a loved one because of sepsis-related mistakes
  • Parents acting on behalf of a child who has been affected

We’ll help you understand whether a claim might be possible and make sure you have all the support you need throughout the process.

Sepsis compensation claim process

At Wolferstans, we know how daunting it can feel to start a claim. That’s why we’re here to make the process as smooth and straightforward as possible.

We’ve created a simple sepsis claims process with the following stages:

Your first call

We’ll begin by listening carefully to your story. Our team will explain your options in plain terms and give you honest advice about the next steps.

Building your case

We’ll help you gather any relevant medical records, reports, and other evidence. If needed, we can arrange for an independent medical expert to provide additional
support for your case.

Submitting your claim

Once we’ve prepared everything, we’ll formally present your claim to the healthcare provider involved, giving them the opportunity to respond.

Negotiation or further steps

Most cases are resolved through negotiation, but if we need to take things further, we’ll guide you through court proceedings with care and confidence.

It’s highly unlikely that a sepsis negligence claim will get all the way to court, but in those rare cases we’ll be with you at every stage, keeping you informed and making sure you feel supported.

How long after sepsis can I make a claim?

If your sepsis was caused in full or in part by the negligence or lack of appropriate care from medical professionals, you could make a claim for compensation for your pain and suffering. Typically the timeframe is three years after the diagnosis of sepsis, or when you realised that negligence may have been a factor in your condition. So even if you suffered with sepsis many years ago but aren’t sure if negligence caused it, it may still be possible to claim after speaking with our solicitors.

There are exceptions to the three-year limit: If a child has contracted sepsis the three-year time limit only starts when they turn 18. Before this a parent or guardian can make a claim on their behalf.

For someone who doesn’t have the mental capacity to make a claim, the three year limit doesn’t apply unless they regain mental capacity, then the time limit would start from that point.

In all cases, it’s better to act sooner rather than later as this makes it easier to gather relevant evidence and strengthen your case.

How much compensation for sepsis?

The amount of compensation you could receive from a sepsis case can vary depending on the severity of the damage caused and any long-term impact on your life.

Compensation is split into general damages and special damages. General damages cover the pain suffering and loss of amenity and are set into bands of compensation amounts by the Judicial College Guidelines and can help to give you an estimated compensation figure based on which part of your body was affected.

Special damages are all the other costs and losses you’ve incurred as a result of the condition. This might include lost earnings, costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, home adaptations in serious cases, and even therapy for PTSD.

Some examples of physical injuries that fall under the general damages in sepsis claims include:

  • Injuries to the bladder – up to £112,000 compensation
  • Injuries to the kidney – up to £167,000 in compensation
  • Injuries to the bowel – up to £119,000 in compensation

Compensation in the special damages category can often be much higher than compensation for the actual injury or physical damage. This type of compensation is designed to help you move forward with the practical and emotional support you need.

A successful sepsis compensation claim can help with:

  • Medical Costs: Covering treatment, rehabilitation, or specialist care.
  • Loss of Income: Compensating for time away from work or reduced earning potential.
  • Support at Home: Providing for care needs, home adaptations, or mobility aids.
  • Emotional Impact: Recognising the pain, distress, and disruption caused by negligence.

We’ll work hard to make sure that every aspect of how sepsis has affected your life is reflected in your claim to get you the maximum possible compensation.

Why Wolferstans?

At Wolferstans, we understand that no two cases are the same. That’s why we take a personal, compassionate approach to every claim we handle.

  • Experience You Can Trust: We’ve helped thousands of clients secure the compensation they deserve in medical negligence cases.
  • Support Every Step of the Way: We’re here to listen, guide, and advocate for you throughout the process.
  • No Win, No Fee: With no upfront costs or financial risk, you can focus on your recovery while we handle your case.

We’re committed and focussed on helping you find closure and start getting your life back on track.

No win no fee sepsis claims

We know that financial concerns can make pursuing a claim feel daunting. Our No Win, No Fee service is designed to make sure you can get access to justice without any upfront costs or risk to your finances.
Our special no win no fee service gives you the following benefits:

  • No financial risk: If your claim isn’t successful, you won’t need to pay any legal fees.
  • Clear and fair fees: If your claim succeeds, our costs will be a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.

We’ll explain everything clearly from the start, so there are no surprises along the way.

If you’ve suffered due to mistakes in the treatment or diagnosis of sepsis, we’re here to help. Contact Wolferstans today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us help you move forward with the answers and support you need.

FAQs

Can I claim on behalf of someone who passed away as a result of sepsis?

One in five sepsis cases in the UK are fatal. In these terrible situations, you can claim on behalf of a loved one you’ve lost due to sepsis. The time limits are the same, so you have three years from the date of their death to make a claim for compensation.

What causes sepsis?

The most common cause of sepsis is a bacterial infections, although it can also be a result of a viral or fungal infection. While infections that lead to sepsis can develop from any part of the body, in most cases infections start from the lungs, bladder, stomach or pelvis.

When an infection gets out of control and large numbers of bacteria enter the bloodstream, this poisoning of the blood is what can lead to organ damage or failure.

How is sepsis treated?

There’s a standard sepsis treatment known as the Sepsis Six and involved three treatments and three tests which should be done within an hour of diagnosis and include:

  • Treatment with antibiotics
  • Intravenous fluid treatment
  • Oxygen treatment where necessary
  • Blood culture tests
  • Blood sample tests
  • Urine tests

The results of these tests provide a score that determines how severed the sepsis is – this is known as the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/691/sequential-organ-failure-assessment-sofa-score>

Do sepsis medical negligence claims cost the NHS money?

Any medical negligence claim brought against the NHS, including sepsis negligence claims, does not impact on the NHS funding as the compensation is paid for by an organisation called NHS Resolution. This is essentially an insurance body that covers all NHS trusts and is backed by government to settle any claims brought against the NHS.

Support for those affected by sepsis

There are various organisations that offer practical and emotional support for those diagnosed with sepsis. Wolferstans work closely with the UK Sepsis Trust whose goal is to end preventable deaths from sepsis and improve outcomes for sepsis survivors.

Start a sepsis compensation claim with us today

To arrange a free initial no obligation consultation and find out more about starting a sepsis compensation claim:

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

More information on claiming for medical negligence with Wolferstans

What to expect during your free consultation
List of all medical negligene claims we can help you claim for
How to make a medical negligence claim
Funding options for medical negligence claims
More information on claiming on behalf of someone else
See how we've helped others in your position
Our accreditations
Helpful leaflets to download