Hatch Brenner Solicitors on Theatre Street in Norwich has secured approval from The Legal Aid Agency and the Solicitors Regulatory Authority to hold a legal aid contract in medical negligence. They are now one of only two legal firms in Norfolk, and the only medical negligence team based in central Norwich, who hold this accreditation demonstrating their specialty in medical negligence legal work.
Legal Aid in medical negligence provides a funding option for children who have suffered neurological injury up to the age of eight weeks – so typically those babies who have suffered injury shortly before, during or shortly after birth.
Hatch Brenner Solicitors Partner and Medical Negligence Specialist Sara Westwood has extensive experience in dealing with medical negligence legal claims relating to birth injury and pregnancy. Sara commented: “It is a real boost to the firm to have gained this approval to offer Legal Aid to eligible clients. Whilst pregnancy and child birth is a happy and positive experience for the majority of families in the UK, it is not risk-free and things can go wrong for the mother or baby.
“Parents may be entitled to Legal Aid if their legal claim concerns their baby suffering a severe disability due to a neurological injury sustained during the mother’s pregnancy, the child’s birth or the first eight weeks of the child’s life. Even if Legal Aid isn’t available, we can explore the available funding options with our clients. Myself and my colleague Simon Bransby have acted for several children who sustained brain injuries at birth due to mismanagement of the labour and delivery. The settlements received by the families in those cases, ranging into seven figure sums, allow for the extensive rehabilitation and practical support needed to care for the children for the rest of their lives.”
Find out more: Medical Negligence – Birth Injury and Pregnancy
If your child has suffered an injury during pregnancy or child birth, we can assist with your legal claim for compensation. Contact Sara Westwood via 01603 214 220 or email [email protected]