Professional negligence occurs when a professional fails to provide a service meeting the standard expected in their field, and this failure causes you a loss.
Professional Negligence Law in Kidlington
When you hire a professional, such as a solicitor, surveyor, financial adviser, accountant or architect you put a lot of trust in their expertise. If that trust is broken and their bad advice or careless work causes you to lose money you may have a case for professional negligence.
Our professional negligence solicitors in Kidlington help people and businesses who have been really hurt because a trusted professional failed them. We know how annoying and confusing these situations can be and we work hard to get the outcome our clients deserve.
What is professional negligence?
Professional negligence happens when a person or company providing services does not meet the standards that a competent professional in their field should meet and that failure causes you a real loss. It is not enough that you are unhappy with the outcome of a matter there must be a mistake and a direct link between that mistake and the harm you have suffered.
We deal with cases like this including:
- Solicitor negligence, such as missing deadlines giving bad advice on property transactions or lawsuits failing to find title defects making errors in contracts or wills
- Surveyor negligence such as giving wrong valuations, failing to find structural defects in a property survey
- Financial adviser negligence, such as giving bad investment advice not explaining risks properly mis-selling financial products
- Accountant negligence, such as making tax filing errors, missing deadlines and getting penalties giving bad advice on business structures
- Architect and construction professional negligence, such as making defective designs, planning failures, budget and specification errors
How we handle professional negligence claims
Every case starts with a thorough review of the facts. We look at the advice you were given the professional's duty to take care of you, where they failed and how much you have lost as a result. We are honest with our clients from the start if we think a claim will not succeed, we will tell you clearly of giving you false hope.
If a claim is viable we pursue it quickly. Many professional negligence disputes are resolved through negotiation and settlement which avoids the time and expense of going to court. When we need to go to court, our solicitors are experienced in presenting technical arguments in a clear and persuasive way.
There are time limits to consider
One of the important things to know is that professional negligence claims have strict time limits. In cases, you have six years from the date the negligence happened or three years from the date you found out (or should have found out) about the negligence, whichever is later. If you wait long you may lose your right to make a claim, so it is essential to get legal advice quickly.
We help clients in Kidlington and Oxfordshire
Our professional negligence team advises clients in Kidlington, Oxford, Bicester, Witney, and across Oxfordshire. We offer an assessment of your situation and can advise on the chances of success, how long it will take, and the costs involved in making a claim.
If you think a professional has let you down. Caused you financial loss? Talk to our Kidlington professional negligence solicitors today.
FAQs
What types of professionals can be held liable for negligence?
Many professionals can be held liable, including solicitors, accountants, financial advisors, surveyors, architects, engineers, doctors, dentists, and vets.
What kind of losses can I claim for?
You can typically claim for financial losses, property damage, or personal injury directly caused by the professional's negligence.
How long do I have to make a professional negligence claim?
Generally, you have six years from the date you suffered the loss, or three years from when you became aware (or should reasonably have become aware) of the negligence and the resulting loss.
What is the process for making a claim?
The process typically involves assessing the validity of your claim, notifying the professional, gathering evidence, sending a Letter Before Action, attempting to negotiate a settlement, and potentially going to court if necessary.
Do I need a solicitor to make a professional negligence claim?
While not mandatory, professional negligence law is complex. A solicitor can significantly increase your chances of success and ensure you receive fair compensation.
How much compensation could I receive?
Compensation aims to put you back in the position you were in before the negligence occurred. The amount depends on the extent of your losses.
What are the costs involved in making a claim?
Many solicitors offer conditional fee agreements (no win, no fee) or work on a damages-based agreement, making claims more accessible.
Can professional negligence claims be resolved without going to court?
Yes, many professional negligence disputes are resolved through alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation or negotiation, avoiding the need for litigation.
What is the difference between professional negligence and clinical negligence?
Clinical negligence is a specific type of professional negligence involving healthcare professionals. While all clinical negligence is professional negligence, not all professional negligence involves clinical care.