Stroke Misdiagnosis Claims

If you or someone you know has suffered a stroke and you believe it could have been prevented with better medical care, JMW can help you make a stroke compensation claim

The specialist medical negligence team, considered one of the best in the UK, will put you in the strongest possible position to recover a financial award that will aid your recovery, provide access to rehabilitation services and help to compensate you for the emotional distress caused.

If you have been harmed by a stroke as a result of misdiagnosis, lack of care or poor judgement by medical professionals, we are here to help.

Contact our team of specialist solicitors today by calling 0345 872 6666. Alternatively, complete our online enquiry form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Our solicitors are able to take on cases on a no win, no fee basis.

How JMW Can Help

The team at JMW is one of the most experienced and respected in the UK and includes members of both the Law Society’s panel for clinical negligence solicitors and AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents) solicitors panel. We are well versed in claims against the NHS and private healthcare providers on behalf of clients who have suffered due to medical negligence

Cases of this nature are rarely straightforward but the expertise and persistence of our specialist solicitors have helped to recover substantial compensation that has made a big difference to the quality of life of the victim

We are able to deal with cases with a no win, no fee agreement, where appropriate. If after talking to us you decide not to take matters further, you will not be charged for our initial advice session.

Meet the Team

Case Studies

What Happens When Strokes Are Misdiagnosed?

When a stroke is misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late, the consequences can be severe and, in many cases, irreversible. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted, either due to a blood clot (ischaemic stroke) or a weakened blood vessel bursting and causing bleeding in the brain (haemorrhagic stroke). If this disruption is not treated quickly, the surrounding brain cells begin to die due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients.

The most serious consequence of stroke misdiagnosis is permanent brain injury. The extent of this injury can vary depending on how long the brain is starved of blood, and which part of the brain is affected. People who experience a misdiagnosed stroke may go on to develop long-term difficulties with movement, speech, memory, concentration or behaviour. In some cases, the damage may affect the ability to swallow, see, or speak clearly, or result in paralysis on one side of the body.

Delayed treatment can also limit the person’s recovery. A delay may mean that some functions are permanently lost or that long-term support is needed.

In the most serious cases, undiagnosed stroke can lead to death. When the blood supply to the brain is not restored in time, or when bleeding in the brain is not controlled, the damage can become too widespread to survive.

When we pursue stroke misdiagnosis compensation claims, we often do so on behalf of people who now rely on others for daily care, have lost their ability to work, or need long-term specialist medical care. These are life-altering consequences - and our role is to help people access the support they need to move forward.

When Can I Make a Stroke Misdiagnosis Claim?

You may be able to make a stroke misdiagnosis claim if you or a loved one experienced avoidable harm because a stroke was missed, diagnosed too late, or wrongly identified as another condition. Stroke misdiagnosis compensation claims often involve medical negligence - where medical professionals fail to act on clear symptoms or provide the level of care expected.

We regularly support clients who have experienced:

• A misdiagnosed stroke, where symptoms were dismissed as something less serious, such as migraine, anxiety, low blood sugar, or alcohol-related illness.
• Delayed treatment due to a missed transient ischaemic attack (TIA), often referred to as a mini-stroke.
• Inadequate response in A&E or after-hours services when stroke symptoms were present.
• Miscommunication between departments leading to late referral for brain imaging or specialist stroke treatment.
• Failure to monitor and control high blood pressure and manage patients with antiphospholipid syndrome.
• Failure to prescribe medications (aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, statins) in patients known to be at risk of stroke.
• Delay in the administration of clot-busting drugs (thrombolysis) in patients experiencing a stroke.
• Delays in removing a blood clot (thrombectomy).
• Failure to treat arteriovenous malformations (AVM), resulting in bursting and causing a bleed on the brain.
• Failure to treat burst aneurysms/haemorrhages via coiling or clipping.

These situations can result in avoidable brain injury, long-term disability, or even death. In some cases, stroke survivors are left with a reduced chance of recovery or fewer rehabilitation options due to the delay in diagnosis.

To bring a stroke misdiagnosis compensation claim, you’ll need to show that negligent medical care caused harm that could have been avoided with earlier or more appropriate treatment. Our specialist medical negligence team can advise you on whether you have a valid clinical negligence claim and explain what to expect from the process.

How Can I Make a Stroke Misdiagnosis Claim?

We make the stroke misdiagnosis claims process as straightforward and supportive as possible. Here’s what to expect:

• Free initial advice: Contact us for a no-obligation conversation. We will discuss the circumstances surrounding your case with you and help you understand whether or not you have a legal claim.
• Reviewing your records: If you go ahead, we’ll request your medical records and review what care was provided, when, and by whom.
• Independent medical evidence: We instruct specialist medical experts to assess whether your treatment fell below acceptable standards and whether earlier diagnosis would have made a difference.
• Understanding the impact: We gather evidence to show how the stroke misdiagnosis caused avoidable harm, such as brain damage, delayed recovery or increased care needs.
• Calculating compensation: We assess how much stroke misdiagnosis compensation you could receive for care, rehabilitation, lost earnings, and the wider impact on your life.
• Submitting your claim: We put your claim to the NHS or private provider. If they accept fault, we negotiate a settlement. If not, we will assist you in taking court action if needed.

Most stroke negligence claims are funded by a no win, no fee agreement, so there’s no financial risk to starting your claim. Where possible, we will work to obtain interim payments to fund the costs of any immediate care you may require.

Learn more about these steps by reading our guide to the medical negligence claims process.

How Much Compensation Could I Receive?

Stroke misdiagnosis compensation is intended to reflect the impact the misdiagnosis has had on your life - both now and in the future. Every case is different, so there is no set amount. However, compensation typically covers a combination of financial losses, care needs, and the personal effects of the stroke.

When we make a stroke compensation claim, we consider:

• The severity of the brain injury and how this affects day-to-day life.
• Any ongoing care or support you need - including stroke rehabilitation, therapy or mobility aids.
• Medical costs, including private medical care or future treatment needs.
• Lost earnings if you can no longer work or need time off for recovery.
• Adaptations to your home or living arrangements, where needed.
• Emotional and psychological impact, such as a loss of independence or the ability to enjoy daily activities.

We build each case with strong medical evidence and expert input to make sure the compensation reflects your actual needs. In many stroke claims, this includes long-term planning to support you and your family for years to come.

If you’re unsure how much compensation you could receive, we can give you a clearer picture once we have reviewed your medical records and spoken with independent experts.