If your baby or child was harmed by negligent medical care in Northern Ireland, we can help you claim on their behalf. Paediatric claims are a particular focus of our clinical negligence work, and there are no upfront fees.
A paediatric negligence claim is a claim for compensation when a baby or child was harmed because their medical care fell below the standard expected. That could be in hospital, at a GP surgery or in a neonatal unit.
A parent or guardian usually brings the claim on the child's behalf, as their 'next friend'. Paediatric claims are a particular focus of our clinical negligence work, alongside birth injury claims.
We help families with claims including:
For injuries during labour and delivery, see our birth injury claims page.
Depending on your child's injury, the claim can include:
You pay nothing to start your claim and nothing while it runs.
We only handle personal injury and clinical negligence claims, from first advice through to court if it comes to that.
If your claim succeeds, the other side pays your legal costs and you keep 100% of your compensation.
Our legal insurance covers the costs if your claim doesn't succeed.
We'll look at what happened and tell you honestly whether you have a claim. There's no pressure to go ahead.
We'll tell you plainly how your claim looks, and keep you updated as it moves.
We help clients across Northern Ireland, in person or by phone, email or video.
Yes. A parent or guardian usually brings the claim on the child's behalf as their 'next friend', the term used in Northern Ireland courts.
For a child, the three-year time limit doesn't start until their 18th birthday, so they can claim up to their 21st birthday. For someone who lacks mental capacity, the time limit doesn't run while they lack it. It's still best to get advice early, while the evidence is fresh.
In Northern Ireland, a settlement for a child has to be approved by a judge. The money is usually held by the Court Funds Office until your child turns 18, unless the court allows some of it to be used for their needs before then.
Usually the health and social care trust responsible for the hospital or clinic. If your child was treated privately, the claim is against the private provider, and if your GP was at fault, the claim is against the GP.
Yes. We instruct independent medical experts to build the case. Our expert witnesses are experienced in court and are regarded by the courts in Northern Ireland as leading authorities in their fields.
Our aim is to settle every claim without going to court, and most claims do settle. As we say, the best claim is a settled claim. Even when a child's claim settles, a judge needs to approve it, which is usually a short hearing.
Medical negligence claims usually take longer than accident claims, often more than a year. Where a child is still growing, the claim may wait until doctors can say how they'll be affected in the long term.
No. There are no upfront fees. If the claim succeeds, the other side pays the legal costs and your child keeps 100% of their compensation. If it doesn't, our legal insurance covers the costs.
Kearney Law Group Ltd is a solicitors' practice regulated by the Law Society of Northern Ireland. Registered in Northern Ireland, company number NI663222. Registered office: Bishop Street Chambers, 26–28 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6PR.
Kearney Law Group only handles personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
We act for clients across Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Derry, Lisburn, Newry, Craigavon and Bangor. See all the areas we cover.
Contact us to arrange your free first conversation.
Belfast: Scottish Provident Building, 7 Donegall Square West, Belfast BT1 6JH
02890 912 938
Derry: Bishop Street Chambers, 26–28 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6PR
02871 362 299
Email: [email protected]
Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday 8am – 8pm
Friday 9am – 5pm
