Perineal & vaginal tear compensation claims

Perineal tears in childbirth are fairly common. The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists reports that “up to 9 in every 10 first-time mothers who have a vaginal birth will experience some sort of tear, graze or episiotomy”.

Common causes of perineal and vaginal tears

There are various causes of perineal or vaginal tears which include:

• Where medical staff did not act on medical issues.
• When a newborn baby is larger than 4kg.
• When the second stage of labour is prolonged.
• The use of instruments in labour, such as forceps and ventouse.
• Substandard medical care.
• A midline episiotomy, which is where medical staff make a slight tear to help delivery.
• Occiput posterior position.
• A first vaginal delivery.
• Previous third or fourth-degree tears.

Perineal tears are not always preventable. However, where medical care is substandard, they are often avoidable. Examples may be where the perineal tear is missed, misdiagnosed or mistreated.

If you suffer a perineal tear due to medical negligence you may be able to make a medical negligence compensation claim.

It's likely that you've not only experienced physical, but also psychological discomfort or injury as a result of a perineal or vaginal tear. A longer recovery may also lead to financial losses. The following list outlines some of the reasons to make a perineal tear medical negligence claim:

• To recognise that you have suffered pain and discomfort that was not your fault.
• To pay for care or treatment that you may have received or may require in the future, due to the medical negligence.
• To pay for any adaptations to your home or vehicle.
• To cover childcare costs.
• To cover any loss of income because of reduced working hours or an inability to work.
• To ensure the medical staff do not make the same medical negligence mistake again on another mother.

We'll calculate your compensation in a few minutes.

Compensation for perineal medical negligence is calculated according to the circumstances of the claim. It's therefore impossible to give you an accurate figure of the amount of compensation you might receive at the outset.

However, you can get a rough idea of the amount of personal injury compensation you may receive by using our online compensation calculator.

Damages for medical negligence claims are split into general damages and special damages:

• General damages cover pain, suffering and loss of everyday amenity.
• Special damages are financial losses you've experienced as a direct result of your injury.

Personal injury compensation amounts for general damages are published by the Judicial College, which is the government department in the Ministry of Justice.

Usually, you will receive general damages and special damages and these totalled together will make your total compensation claim.

Some factors that will be taken into account in calculating your claim are:

• The degree of the tear.
• The treatment you have already undergone.
• The impacts of the medical negligence on your daily life.
• Any expenses you have suffered as a result of your perineal tear.
• Loss of earnings due to medical negligence
• Potential future losses you could suffer.

Our expert panel of perineal tear medical negligence solicitors usually work on a no win no fee basis. This means that they arrange a no win no fee (or ‘conditional fee') arrangement with you. Essentially, this type of agreement means that you have no financial risk - if you lose, you pay nothing, and if you win, the fees and costs come from your compensation award.

When you make a no win no fee claim with us, your personal injury lawyer will take out insurance on your behalf that covers all of your claim costs and expenses. This includes medical report fees, court fees and barristers' fees. So long as you comply with the terms and conditions, you won't have to make any upfront payments and there will be no hidden surprises.

If for any reason you are not eligible to enter into a no win no fee agreement, your solicitor will advise you of this at the outset and explain any alternative options to you.

If you are eligible to make a perineal tear compensation claim with National Accident Helpline, our solicitors will guide you through the process, from start to finish.

You may be eligible to make a perineal tear compensation claim. If your perineal tear could have been prevented, it is likely to be caused by medical negligence, so you should be able to make a compensation claim.

There are lots of reasons why you should choose National Accident Helpline to support your medical negligence claim. We have over 31 years of experience in medical negligence, including perineal tears. Our expert advisors endeavour to get the best outcome for you and offer a free, no-obligation chat, to determine whether you're eligible to make a claim.

If you make a perineal tear claim with National Accident Helpline, you can rest assured that your claim will be dealt with by highly experienced solicitors who are known for their ability to make successful medical negligence compensation claims.

We offer a simple and stress-free claims process for perineal and vaginal tear negligence claims. Give us a call on 0800 376 0150 or start your compensation claim here.

Initially, our expert advisors will talk to you about the circumstances leading to your perineal or vaginal tear, and what occurred after. You're under no pressure to make a claim. However, if you do decide to proceed, our specialist solicitors will process your claim.

And if you want a rough idea of how much compensation you might get if you make a perineal tear compensation claim with National Accident Helpline, you can use our online compensation calculator.

Give us a call today on , or request a call back here. Alternatively, you can even start your claim online.