Pressure Sores Claims – How Much Compensation Can You Claim?

If you or a loved one have suffered from pressure sores (also known as bedsores or pressure ulcers) whilst in a hospital or from care home negligence, you may be eligible to make a pressure sores claim for compensation.

Pressure sores can be painful and lead to infections, blood poisoning and even gangrene. However, they are completely avoidable. Therefore, the most likely cause of pressure sores in a care environment is neglect. In this guide to pressure sores compensation claims, we’ll review when you might be eligible to begin a claim, how to file a claim, and how much compensation for pressure sores could be awarded.

We can help with pressure sore claims against the NHS or a private care provider, so please get in touch today by calling us on 0800 6524 881. To learn more about pressure sore claims before calling, please continue reading.

What Are Pressure Sores?

Pressure sores can develop on any part of the body where pressure is placed on the skin for a prolonged period. Patients in wheelchairs or those confined to a bed or chair for a long time are most at risk. If you are incapacitated or at risk of pressure sores, your position should be changed regularly by medical staff to reduce the chances of them developing.

Am I Eligible To Make A Pressure Sores Claim?

Anybody who has suffered pressure sores due to negligent care may be eligible to claim compensation. This could include hospital patients, care home residents, or individuals receiving care in their own home, where staff or carers failed to take reasonable steps to prevent pressure sores from developing.

To make a successful pressure sores claim, you’ll usually need to show that:

• The level of care provided fell below reasonable standards (a breach of duty); and
• As a result, you or your loved one developed pressure sores (causation).

Importantly, all medical professionals and care workers owe a legal duty of care to safeguard those they look after. If you’re unsure whether negligence has occurred, our advisors can review your case, give free legal advice, and explain your options.

Common Causes of Pressure Sore Claims

Some common causes of pressure sore claims include:

• Prolonged immobility. Patients confined to a bed or wheelchair without regular repositioning are at higher risk for developing pressure sores.
• Inadequate support surfaces. Insufficiently padded beds, chairs, or wheelchairs, causing prolonged pressure on vulnerable areas of the body.
• Poor hydration and nutrition. Malnutrition or dehydration can weaken skin, making it more susceptible to breakdown under pressure.
• Lack of regular skin checks. Failure to monitor and assess skin regularly, especially in high-risk areas, can lead to unnoticed early-stage sores worsening over time.
• Inappropriate care routines. Inadequate hygiene or failure to change soiled bedding and clothing can increase skin irritation and lead to pressure sores.

Essentially, if pressure sores have developed because proper care routines and preventive measures were ignored or not implemented, you may be eligible to make a compensation claim.

How Much Compensation For Pressure Sores Could I Claim?

Any compensation for pressure sores is designed to cover physical, psychological and financial suffering. Therefore, your pressure sore claim could cover:

• The pain and suffering that resulted from your pressure sores.
• Any impact your injuries had on your social life or hobbies. This is often referred to as loss of amenity.
• Care costs if somebody needed to take time out to look after you while you were suffering.
• Medical expenses, including private remedial treatment.
• Travel expenses caused by your pressure ulcers and subsequent treatment.
• Loss of earnings and future loss of income if your bedsores have or will cause you to lose work.
• Changes to your home if your injuries leave you with some form of disability. For example, if you’re left in a wheelchair, you might claim the cost of installing ramps or widening doors.

Our team of solicitors will always try to secure as much pressure sores compensation as possible by reviewing how you’ve suffered in detail before filing your claim.

Evidence To Support A Pressure Sores Compensation Claim

To make a successful pressure sores compensation claim, you’ll need evidence that demonstrates how the sores developed, who was responsible, and the effect on your health. This could include:

• Medical records. Documentation from hospitals or the care home detailing your diagnosis, treatment, and any recorded issues with care. This can help show the progression of pressure sores and any missed treatment.
• Care home records. Records or logs from the care home, hospital, or other healthcare setting can indicate how often you were repositioned, checked, and monitored.
• Photographic evidence. Photos showing the progression of pressure ulcers over time can be valuable, especially if they show the condition worsening due to a lack of proper care.
• Witness statements. Statements from family members, friends, or other visitors who observed the quality of care and any apparent neglect can support your claim.
• Staffing and training records. Documents showing understaffing or inadequate training at the care facility can help demonstrate systemic issues that may have contributed to poor care.
• Diet and hydration records. If malnutrition or dehydration contributed to the development of pressure sores, these records can support your case by showing gaps in basic care.

If you’re unsure about the evidence required, our claims advisors can review your case for free and help identify any further information that may strengthen your pressure sores claim.

Time Limits For Claiming Pressure Sores Compensation

Pressure sore claims are usually subject to a 3-year time limit. This will often run from the date of the negligent treatment or incident, although a later “date of knowledge” may apply in some cases.

Importantly, if a loved one lacks the mental capacity to manage their own pressure sore claim, the 3-year time limit is paused. If mental capacity is regained, the 3-year period would then start from that date. Alternatively, a family member or trusted person can act as a litigation friend to file the claim on their behalf at any time.

While the 3-year limitation period is quite long, we would suggest starting your pressure sore compensation claim as soon as you can. That’s because it can take some time to collect all of the evidence needed to support your case. Starting your claim with only months to go might mean there’s not enough time for your solicitor to carry out all of their required tasks.

How Long Do Pressure Sore Claims Take?

The time required to resolve a pressure sores claim typically depends on the complexity of the case and the amount of evidence needed. Generally, straightforward cases, where liability is admitted quickly, may be resolved within a few months. However, if the case involves significant disputes over liability or the severity of the ulcers, it can take much longer.

Common factors that can affect the duration of a pressure sores claim include:

• Availability of medical evidence. Independent medical assessments are often arranged by medical negligence solicitors on our team to confirm the cause and impact of the pressure sores, and scheduling these assessments can take time.
• Cooperation from the defendant. If the healthcare provider or care home accepts responsibility early on, this can speed up the process. In cases where liability is denied, the claim may take longer as evidence is gathered and reviewed.
• The severity of the pressure sores. For serious or ongoing injuries, it may be necessary to wait until the full impact of the pressure sores is known before settling the claim to ensure fair compensation.

Your solicitor will keep you updated throughout the process and work to resolve the claim as efficiently as possible. While timelines can vary, pursuing a pressure sores claim promptly can help ensure evidence is collected early and may lead to a faster resolution.

Do I Need A Solicitor To File A Pressure Sores Claim?

While you’re not legally required to use a medical negligence solicitor to file a pressure sores claim, having professional support can significantly improve your chances of a successful outcome.

To remove as much of your stress and financial risk as possible, the solicitors on our team provide a No Win No Fee service for any pressure sores claim that’s taken on. That means they can begin working on your case without you paying their fees in advance.

A Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) is used to formalise the agreement, and it will list the criteria that must be met before you’ll pay your solicitor for their work. It will also explain what percentage of your compensation will be deducted as a success fee if your claim is won. You won’t pay the fee, however, if your claim fails.

To check if you could claim using a No Win No Fee solicitor, please get in touch today.

Starting The Pressure Sore Claims Process

We hope our guide on claiming compensation for pressure sores has helped. If you’d like to start the pressure sore compensation claims process, the simplest way to do so is to call us on 0800 6524 881. During your initial free consultation, your chances of being compensated will be reviewed, and you’ll receive legal advice about your next steps. We’ll provide this service whether you decide to proceed with a claim or not.

Remember, if a medical negligence solicitor from our team takes you on as a client, you’ll benefit from their legal experience and expertise on a No Win No Fee basis.

Our live chat service and telephone advice line are usually open 24 hours a day, so please get in touch if you have any further questions about the pressure sores claims process.