Neurological injury claims

A neurological injury caused by medical negligence can drastically change every aspect of your life. If substandard care left you or a loved one with damage to the brain, spinal cord, or nervous system, you may be entitled to make a claim.

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Reviewed by

Michael Gray

Lead Partner Clinical Negligence Neuro Injury Unit (Brain and Spine)

Last Updated

22nd July 2026

Can I make a neurological injury claim?

Neurological injury claims can be made when damage to the brain, spinal cord, or nervous system has been caused or made worse by substandard medical care. These injuries are often life-changing, affecting mobility, cognition, independence, relationships, and everyday life. Sometimes, the impact is permanent.

You may be able to claim neurological injury compensation if a doctor, surgeon, or other healthcare professional failed to meet the standard of care owed to you, directly causing or worsening your injury.

This could include a delayed or missed diagnosis of a stroke, meningitis, or other neurological condition. It could also include a failure to treat a spinal disc protrusion that led to cauda equina syndrome, nerve damage caused during surgery, or an infection or thrombosis that was not identified or managed in time. With many neurological conditions, the speed of diagnosis and treatment is critical. A delay can mean the difference between recovery and permanent disability.

To make a successful neurological injury claim, you need to show that the care you received fell below the standard a competent medical professional would have provided, and that this directly caused the injury you suffered. Neurological injury compensation can be complex, so seeking legal advice early is critical.

If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, or if some time has passed since the event, it’s still worth talking to us. Usually, you have three years from the date you became aware of the injury to bring a claim, but there are exceptions, and we can advise on your specific circumstances.

Example of a neurological injury claim

A patient attends their GP with classic symptoms of cauda equina syndrome – severe back pain, numbness, and problems with bladder control. The GP fails to refer them urgently for an MRI scan, and by the time the condition is diagnosed and treated, permanent nerve damage has occurred. If an earlier referral could have prevented that damage, this could form the basis of a valid neurological injury claim.

Related neurological injury claims we support

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What compensation can help with

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Funding your recovery, care, and financial security for the future.

Compensation in a neurological injury claim does more than acknowledge what went wrong in your care. It also provides the financial support you need to access appropriate care, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Neurological injuries can be among the most complicated and wide-ranging in their impact. You may need ongoing specialist care, adaptations to your home, assistive technology, or psychological support. Additionally, you may have lost the ability to work, either temporarily or permanently, and your family may have had to take on caring responsibilities. Compensation is designed to reflect all of that.

Where possible, we will work to secure interim payments during your claim. This means you do not have to wait until the end of the process to access the right support and treatment.

Successful neurological injury claims may help fund:

Specialist neurological rehabilitation and physiotherapy
Psychological support and counselling
Home adaptations and specialist equipment
Ongoing care and support needs
Loss of current and future earnings
Costs of assistive technology and mobility aids
Travel and transport costs related to your recovery and treatment

Understanding the potential value

The value of your neurological injury claim largely depends on the severity of your injury, the level of care you need, the impact on your ability to work, and your long-term prognosis. Cases involving significant or permanent neurological damage, such as paralysis, severe cognitive impairment, or loss of independence, can result in substantial settlements. Our team will work with independent medical experts and specialists to build a picture of your needs now and into the future, ensuring any settlement truly reflects the impact of what happened to you.

Understanding interim payments

The financial pressure of a serious neurological injury can be immediate and severe. If your claim supports it, we will aim to secure interim payments on your behalf. These funds are paid out during the claims process, before your final settlement is reached, which means you may be able to access rehabilitation, specialist equipment, or home adaptations. You should not have to wait until the end of your claim to get the support you need.

Specialist neurological injury solicitors

Our team has extensive experience in complex clinical and neurological negligence claims.

Why choose Fletchers for your neurological injury claim?

Neurological injury claims are among the most technically demanding in clinical negligence law. They require solicitors who understand both the medicine and the litigation process, so that complex expert evidence can be interpreted correctly and a case built that reflects the true scale of your injury. At Fletchers, our clinical negligence solicitors have the experience, accreditations, and clinical insight to handle even the most difficult neurological cases.

Expertise you can rely on

Specialist clinical negligence solicitors with extensive experience in complex neurological injury cases
Members of the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) referral panel
Members of the Law Society clinical negligence panel
Members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
Access to leading independent medical experts to support your case
Proven ability to secure interim payments to fund early rehabilitation and care
Rated excellent on Trustpilot by the clients we have supported
‘No Win, No Fee’, so claims can be pursued without financial risk

You're not alone

We understand what you and your family are going through.

A neurological injury can touch every part of your life. The physical symptoms, including weakness, pain, loss of sensation, problems with movement, speech, or cognition, can be profound and often unpredictable. But beyond the physical, many people face significant psychological challenges from anxiety and depression to a changed sense of identity, and deep uncertainty about the future.

We also understand the wider impact on your family. Caring for a loved one with a neurological injury takes enormous strength, and the practical and financial pressures can build quickly. Lost income, the cost of adaptations, specialist equipment, therapy, and ongoing care can all mount up when you should be focused on recovery.

We have supported many clients who felt exactly as you may feel right now, uncertain whether they had a case, exhausted by what happened, and unsure who to trust. What they needed most was someone to listen, understand, and take on the hard work for them.

That is what we are here to do. Our specialist team will handle every part of the process, work with independent medical experts to build your case, and fight to secure compensation that genuinely reflects the impact of what has happened.

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FAQs about neurological injury claims

How long do I have to make a neurological injury claim?

In most cases, you have three years from the date of the injury, or the date you first became aware that the injury may have been caused by negligence, to bring a claim. There are exceptions to this rule, for example, where the person affected lacks mental capacity or where the claim involves a child.

If you are unsure whether you are still within the time limit, speak to us as soon as possible. Our team can offer guidance on your specific situation.

How much does it cost to make a neurological injury claim?

Fletchers operates on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis, which is 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 after-the-event (ATE) insurance before we progress your case.

We will explain this clearly at the outset, so you understand exactly what to expect.

How do I prove medical negligence caused my neurological injury?

To succeed in a neurological injury claim, you need to show two things. It must be proven that the medical professional’s care fell below the standard a competent professional would have provided (a breach of duty), and that this breach directly caused or worsened your injury (causation).

Since neurological injury claims are a medical matter, the most important evidence will come from independent medical experts. Your legal team needs to understand and interpret that evidence, as well as know the relevant area of medicine and experience of the litigation process. That is exactly what our team brings.

What evidence is needed for a neurological injury claim?

Evidence required varies from case to case. However, the key piece of evidence will come from independent medical experts, who will review your medical records and provide opinions on whether the care you received was adequate and whether it caused or worsened your injury.

Your legal team will gather your medical records, instruct the relevant experts, and build the case on your behalf. You do not need to do this yourself.

What support is available during my neurological injury claim?

We understand that neurological injuries can require urgent rehabilitation and specialist care. Where your claim supports it, we will seek to obtain interim payments. These funds are available before your case concludes, so you can access therapy, equipment, or home adaptations as early as possible.

We will also work with independent experts to assess your home modification needs and longer-term care requirements, ensuring any settlement truly reflects what you need to move forward.

Can I claim if the injury was partly caused by a pre-existing condition?

Yes, in some circumstances. What matters is whether medical negligence caused or significantly worsened your condition, not whether you had an underlying health issue beforehand.

Neurological conditions such as thrombosis, infections, or spinal problems can be affected by delayed or inadequate treatment, even where a pre-existing vulnerability is present.

We’ll assess the specifics of your situation and give you honest advice on whether you have a viable claim.