Dispute solicitors Swansea
If you feel you have suffered at the hands of a professional who has let you down, please seek help early.
- enquiries@pgmsolicitors.co.uk
- (01792) 468684
- PGM Solicitors, 120 Walter Rd, Swansea SA1 5RF
At some time or another, we all need to seek professional help. This may be for a wide variety of reasons. You may need an extension to your home, so you engage an architect and or a surveyor. You may need help with your business or tax affairs, so consult an accountant. Obviously, no one wants to consult a lawyer, but sometimes, even that is inevitable.
What these and other similar professionals have in common is that they all owe you two duties. The first of these arises from the contract you have with them. You engage them to provide their services in exchange for a fee. You are entitled to have an appropriate level of service. They should perform their tasks to a reasonable standard in accordance with their instruction. At the same time, they also owe a duty of care in tort. This means they must exercise their professional skills in accordance with the standard expected of a reasonable professional in their field.
Please note that the professional in question is judged against an equivalent professional of reasonable skill and knowledge. They do not need to be perfect or get things right every time.
Resolving these claims usually requires expert evidence from a professional of like kind to the one you think is in the wrong. Selecting the correct expert is an important first step. Always remember, the professional is usually defended by their insurance provider who will not give up without a fight.
If you feel you have suffered at the hands of a professional who has let you down, please seek help early.
Talk to our team
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is professional negligence?
Professional negligence is the failure of a professional to perform to the standard required to satisfy their duty of care to a third party. Professional negligence isn’t just poor service. If professional negligence results in you incurring losses, you may be legally entitled to make a claim for compensation.
What can I claim for?
The first step in making a claim for professional negligence is working out whether or not you meet the required criteria.
The criteria is as follows:
- The professional owed you a duty of care
- This duty of care was breached by the professional
- You suffered injury or loss as a consequence (loss includes both financial loss and loss of opportunity).
- If you suffer either damages or financial loss and you can prove it is a result of a breach of duty of care
How do I begin a claim?
There are 6 key steps to making a professional negligence claim. These are set out in the professional negligence pre action protocol. The steps are:
- Preliminary notice
- Letter of claim
- Letter of acknowledgment
- Investigations
- Letter of response and letter of settlement
- Alternative dispute resolution
For further advice on each of these steps, do contact us.
How long do I have to make my claim?
You usually have 6 years from the date that you suffered loss or damage to bring a professional negligence claim. However, this can vary depending on the circumstances of your case. If you believe you have grounds for a professional negligence claim, it is advisable to discuss your case sooner rather than later.
Will I have to go to court?
You may do – but in many cases, claims can be settled out of court. Your solicitor will be able to advise and guide you through the process if a court visit is on the agenda.
What are examples of negligence by a professional?
There are many examples of professional negligence. Including:
- An accountant giving poor financial advice which causes you to suffer a loss
- A surveyor failing to report significant defects in a property you are intending to buy
- An architect drawing up plans for an extension which does not comply with planning permission resulting in you having to rebuild their extension.
When you use a professional service, the professional is expected to perform to the standard expected of someone in their field.
Our Client Feedback
“Excellent service all round, very professional but also very friendly and helpful.”
Paul P
“I can think of no comments or suggestions that could improve an already existing highly efficient service. I found it totally excellent in every way and have every confidence in this company.”
Muriel P
“I wish to thank you for all the help you have given me in this matter and it was just unfortunate that we didn’t know of you sooner as I’m sure my wife would have had a much more favourable outcome. Should I ever hear of someone needing a feisty solicitor with a genuine sense of justice I will have no hesitation in recommending you for the role.”
