Medical Negligence - Adviceline Injury Lawyers

Limitation Periods

An adult patient has 3 years in which to bring a claim for medical negligence. If the patient is a child and has capable parents there is a 6 year limitation period. The limitation period starts from the date that he/she becomes aware of the negligence that caused his/her injury. This is known as the date of discoverability.

As it is often difficult to be precise as to what a patient's date of discoverability will be, it is therefore important that the patient speaks to a lawyer as soon as the patient believes he/she may have a case.

For all claims there is a maximum period of 12 years from the date of the alleged act or omission in which to bring a claim.