Deep vein thrombosis claims

The first step in making a deep vein thrombosis claim is to call us for a free initial consultation. We will give you an honest assessment of your situation, explain whether you have a case, and outline what happens next.

Deep vein thrombosis claims require specialist knowledge and work. Your legal team should have both the legal expertise and the medical knowledge to understand what evidence is required and how to interpret it. Established relationships with the right independent medical experts are also key to making a claim.

To succeed, we need to show that you received sub-standard care; for example, a failure to carry out a DVT risk assessment, a failure to prescribe blood-thinning medication, or a delayed or missed diagnosis. We then need to prove, on the balance of probabilities, that this sub-standard care directly caused your harm.

In cases involving a failure to prescribe anti-coagulants (blood-thinning medication), we need to show that this failure led to the DVT developing. Where a diagnosis was delayed, we need to demonstrate that the delay caused a pulmonary embolism or other serious harm.

To bring a DVT negligence claim, we need to show that the healthcare staff responsible for your care breached the duty they owed you, and that this breach directly caused your injury or worsened your condition. This means showing, on the balance of probabilities, that their failures were responsible for your harm.

We will gather your medical records, instruct independent medical experts, and review the relevant NICE guidelines and hospital protocols. Our experts will assess both the standard of your care and the impact of the negligence on your health. You do not need to gather evidence yourself; that is our job.

DVT claims can be complex, and the timescale will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. This includes the severity of your injury, whether you are still receiving treatment, and how the other side responds to your claim. We will give you a realistic picture of timescales from the start and keep you updated throughout the claims process.

There is usually a statutory time limit of three years for making a clinical negligence claim. This typically runs from the date of the negligent treatment, or from the date you became aware that your injury may have been caused by negligent care.

There are some exceptions to this rule, so speak to us as soon as possible, and we will advise you on the specifics of your situation.

Fletchers operates on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis, sometimes called a conditional fee arrangement. This means you will not pay us anything if we do not secure compensation for you. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to take out after-the-event (ATE) insurance before we progress with your case.

We will explain all of this clearly before we begin, so there are no surprises.

Yes, patient-specific factors such as weight, immobility, pregnancy, or underlying conditions like cancer or heart disease can all increase the risk of a DVT. But where medical staff were aware of those risk factors and still failed to take appropriate preventative steps, such as prescribing blood-thinning medication or carrying out a risk assessment, that can still amount to negligence.

We will look carefully at the full picture and advise you honestly on the strength of your case.

From the moment you contact us, our focus is on you – not just your case. We will take the time to understand your situation, explain the process clearly, and make sure you always know what is happening and what comes next.

We will work with experts to assess any ongoing care, treatment, or home modification needs you may have alongside your claim. Our team can also look to secure interim payments to help cover immediate costs while your claim is ongoing.