Subdural Haematoma Negligence Compensation Claims

When blood builds up between the skull and the surface of the brain, this results in a serious health condition known as a subdural haematoma. Most of the time, a subdural haematoma is caused by a severe head injury, typically in the event of a serious fall or accident.

If you've had an accident resulting in a head injury, and caused a subdural haemorrhage, and you received insufficient care during the diagnosis or treatment process, then this could be an example of medical negligence and you may be entitled to compensation. 

Does this sound familiar? If so, seeking our expert legal advice will give you the clarity regarding your next steps that you deserve.

Why choose SDS Solicitors?

Medical negligence during your treatment for subdural haematoma can severely reduce the quality of your life and the lives of your loved ones.

Our renowned team has decades of experience in counselling and assisting people who have experienced insufficient treatment or whose subdural haematoma has been misdiagnosed. 

We understand that the pain brought on by this type of medical negligence cannot be measured in money. However, the right solicitor can help you make a claim for compensation; compensation that can help alleviate some of your financial burden. 

For advice regarding your case, including whether you might have a claim and how much you might be entitled to, get in touch with us today. 

To reach us, either dial the number at the top of this page or use our online form.

What types of subdural haematoma are there?

There are two main categories of subdural haematoma - an acute subdural haemorrhage and a subacute subdural haematoma. 

Acute subdural haemorrhage

An acute subdural haemorrhage happens when the small space between the patient's skull and brain fills with blood shortly after their head injury/trauma occurs. This can begin to happen immediately or a couple of hours after the initial incident, and patients will begin to experience symptoms relatively quickly.

Subacute subdural haematoma

A subacute subdural haematoma refers to a subdural haematoma that was delayed. For example, you may have experienced a subacute subdural haematoma if you did not feel any symptoms until several days after the initial trauma. In some cases, symptoms can take as long as a week to start showing.

Chronic subdural haemorrhage

A patient may rarely experience a chronic subdural haemorrhage. This is where the blood pooling between the surface of the brain and the skull collects for a longer period of time, and is typically seen in older patients. A chronic subdural haemorrhage can last as long as three weeks after the initial trauma to the head. 

While different types of subdural haematomas and haemorrhages may result in patients experiencing symptoms for varying amounts of time, all of these conditions can be life threatening.

What causes a subdural haematoma?

When the brain, or cerebral blood vessels, become damaged, the subdural space between the brain and skull may pool with blood, causing a subdural haematoma. 

While the injuries that lead to a subdural haematoma tend to be more serious (car crashes, for example, are a leading cause), even small head bumps have been known to cause the condition. 

Additional factors such as malignant brain tumours, epilepsy and brain aneurysms may increase the likelihood of a patient with a brain injury developing a subdural haematoma. 

Normally, doctors will use a CT scan to diagnose the condition, but the specific treatment required will vary from person to person. 

The patient's individual medical history and the severity of the haematoma will need to be considered by the medical team responsible for treatment, but the majority of patients (especially in severe cases) will require urgent surgery to remove the haematoma. 

If enough blood collects between the skull and brain, this can inflict pressure on the brain and may cause brain damage. This is why it is so important for patients to receive a quick (and accurate) diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of a subdural haematoma?

The symptoms of a subdural haematoma can vary widely from person to person. The most common include:

• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• A headache that gets worse over time
• Feeling disorientated
• Distinct personality changes (including significant mood swings)
• Drowsiness

And many more. 

Subdural haemorrhages may be misdiagnosed because they can resemble other, less severe head injuries, such as a moderate concussion.

Subdural haematomas are extremely dangerous if not treated as quickly as possible; the longer they go untreated, the more pressure the blood clot puts on the patient's brain, increasing the risk of permanent brain damage. 

When is a subdural haematoma negligent?

Even with quick treatment, the risk of death from a subdural haematoma is significant, and in severe cases patients may experience life-altering side effects such as permanent brain damage. After surgery, patients are frequently given prescriptions for rehabilitation therapy to assist them in adjusting to the physical and psychological changes brought on by subdural haematoma.

While a subdural haematoma carries a high risk of death and brain damage, patients have a better chance of making a full recovery if they receive high-quality medical support. 

A patient's recovery can be adversely affected by a number of factors, including slow diagnosis of the ailment, mistakes made during treatment (such as conducting procedures wrong), and insufficient post-operative rehabilitative therapy. Delays in diagnosis can increase the likelihood that a patient will experience serious consequences, and surgical errors might leave patients needing more medical care.

If you, or someone close to you, have experienced avoidable harm because your subdural haematoma was not effectively diagnosed and treated by your doctor, then this could be an example of medical negligence and you may be entitled to compensation.

What to do next

Your healthcare providers have a moral and legal obligation to provide you with the same high standard of care as they would any other patient. Everyone should have confidence that their doctor and medical staff will take good care of them.

Unfortunately, instances of medical negligence do happen. 

The good news is that victims of medical negligence are entitled to financial compensation, which can go a long way towards alleviating some of the financial burden caused as a result of subdural haematoma treatment negligence.

Making a claim for compensation can be challenging. But if you have the right attorney on your side, you can go into the process knowing exactly what to do next. Additionally, by making a claim, you can ensure that those responsible for giving you negligent care do not give other patients the same insufficient treatment. 

Keep in mind that you are not alone. Our medical negligence claims professionals at SDS Solicitors are there for you every step of the way.

For information on whether you might be entitled to compensation, how much you might be entitled to, and what to expect next, get in touch with our experts.

Contact Us

Established in Manchester in 1997, we are a leading specialist personal injury, accident, and medical negligence law firm acting for claimants who are victims of clinical negligence.

Our Medical Negligence Lawyers, act regularly for clients across Greater Manchester including Ashton, Bury, Bolton, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Middleton, Failsworth, Rochdale, Oldham, and Whitefield.

The team of Brain Injury Lawyers at Sheldon Davidson Solicitors can support your needs wherever you live in Wales, England & Northern Ireland.

We have helped to secure substantial compensation packages for subdural haematoma negligence cases. We understand that you’ll have many questions about your claim, so we offer a free initial consultation so you can start to get the answers you need.

You’ll be able to speak directly to a solicitor about your subdural haematoma negligence compensation claim today using the phone number at the top of this page.

We specialise in no win no fee serious injury claims, which means if you don't win, you won't have to pay.

Call us for free now using the number at the top of the page or complete the online contact form and a member of our team will get back to you.

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors are a Lexcel accredited medical negligence and personal injury law firm. The Lexcel standard is only awarded by the Law Society to firms who meet the highest standards of practice management and customer service.

With Sheldon Davidson Solicitors in Whitefield, Manchester you can be confident that your claim is in safe hands.