Subdural Haematoma Injury Claims Solicitors
If you or someone you care about has experienced a subdural haematoma because of negligent medical treatment, you may be entitled to make a subdural haematoma compensation claim. These injuries can have a devastating impact, and when they are made worse by avoidable errors, the effects can be life-changing.
Our specialist medical negligence team at JMW has many years of experience in supporting people through subdural haematoma injury compensation claims. We help clients secure the financial compensation they deserve while providing the legal support and guidance they need throughout the claims process.
We combine deep expertise with professionalism and sensitivity, recognising the physical and emotional toll of brain injuries. This approach has helped us become one of the UK’s leading clinical negligence teams, and you can depend on us to support you at every stage of the compensation claims process.
To find out how we can help with your subdural haematoma injury claim, contact us today by calling 0345 872 6666 or filling in our online enquiry form. We may be able to help you on a no win, no fee basis.
On This Page
What Our Clients Say
How JMW Can Help
Our solicitors specialise in supporting people who have experienced a subdural haematoma due to medical negligence. We act for individuals and families who have been affected by negligent diagnosis, delayed treatment, surgical mistakes, or a failure to monitor a patient's condition - all of which can lead to avoidable brain damage or even death. Whether the negligence occurred in an NHS hospital or under private medical care, we will help you claim compensation for the harm you have experienced.
We handle every stage of the legal process on your behalf - from gathering medical evidence and working with independent experts, to preparing your case and negotiating with the healthcare provider involved. We also make sure you are supported throughout your recovery by helping you access specialist rehabilitation and financial support where possible.
Our team provides straightforward, clear legal advice that is easy to understand, and we pride ourselves on being friendly, responsive and approachable. We know how distressing it can be to deal with the effects of a traumatic brain injury, which is why we always work with sensitivity and care.
We have extensive experience in serious injury claims and have helped many people make successful subdural haematoma injury compensation claims - even where the case is complex or the long-term impact is still being understood.
Our clinical negligence team includes members of the Law Society’s specialist panel of clinical negligence solicitors and the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitors panel. The department is led by Eddie Jones, a nationally recognised solicitor in this field, and is regarded as one of the leading teams in the country for brain and head injury claims.
Case Studies
What Is a Subdural Haematoma?
A subdural haematoma or subdural haemorrhage is a serious medical condition where blood collects between the surface of the brain and the skull. This usually happens when a blood vessel - often one of the bridging veins - is damaged and allows blood to escape into the subdural space, which is the area between the dura mater (the brain’s outer protective layer) and the arachnoid mater. As the blood builds up, it puts pressure on the brain tissue, which can quickly become life-threatening.
Subdural haematomas are a type of traumatic brain injury that can be caused by head trauma, such as a fall, accident, or impact to the head. They are more common in older people, people who take blood thinners, or those with cerebral atrophy - a condition where brain tissue has shrunk, often due to age or long-term alcohol misuse.
There are three main types of subdural haematoma:
- Acute subdural haematoma develops rapidly, usually after a severe head injury.
- Chronic subdural haematoma develops slowly over days or weeks, often after a minor head injury or accidental head trauma.
- Subacute subdural haematoma presents with symptoms within a few days of the injury.
If a subdural haematoma is not diagnosed and treated quickly, the pressure on the brain can lead to permanent brain damage, severe neurological problems, or death. In some cases, the condition causes few or no symptoms at first, which can lead to delays in diagnosis and missed opportunities for treatment.
You can read more about subdural haematomas on the NHS website.
When Could a Subdural Haematoma Be Caused by Medical Negligence?
A subdural haematoma can become more dangerous - or even fatal - if medical professionals fail to recognise and treat it in time.
Some examples of medical errors that may lead to subdural haematoma injury compensation claims include:
- Failure to recognise symptoms: Early signs of a subdural haematoma - such as confusion, headaches, vomiting, or changes in consciousness - may be mistaken for other conditions like dementia, stroke or intoxication. This is especially common in older patients or people who appear to have a minor head injury.
- Delays in ordering a CT scan: A CT scan is essential to confirm the presence of a subdural haematoma. Any delay in ordering or interpreting this scan can increase the risk of brain damage or even death.
- Misdiagnosis or incorrect treatment: If a subdural haematoma is wrongly diagnosed, the correct surgical treatment - such as drilling to relieve intracranial pressure or remove a blood clot - may be delayed or not carried out at all.
- Failure to refer to a specialist: People with suspected traumatic brain injury should be referred to a neurosurgeon or specialist centre. A failure to escalate care quickly may lead to a worsened outcome.
- Poor post-operative care: Even when surgery is successful, failure to monitor the patient’s recovery properly can result in avoidable complications, such as repeat bleeding, infection, or unmanaged pressure on the brain.
Negligence in any of these areas can lead to permanent brain damage, severe disability, or even loss of life.
How to Make a Subdural Haematoma Claim
If you or a loved one have experienced avoidable harm due to a subdural haematoma that was not properly diagnosed or treated, you may be able to make a medical negligence claim. At JMW, we handle every stage of the process on your behalf - making the experience as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
When you contact us, we will begin by reviewing the details of your situation and advising you on whether we believe there is a strong basis for a claim. If so, we will begin gathering the evidence needed to support your case. This may include expert opinions, witness statements, your medical records and documentation of the physical, emotional and financial impact the injury has had.
We will keep you updated throughout and explain every step in plain language. Our goal is to secure the compensation you are entitled to - whether this is to cover loss of earnings, long-term care needs, or the wider impact on your life.
Where possible, we will also work to obtain interim payments to help pay for any immediate care requirements you may have. We will always aim to reach an appropriate settlement as early as we can, so you can focus on your recovery and future.
Many of our cases are handled on a no win, no fee basis, meaning you do not have to worry about legal costs if your claim is not successful.
You can learn more by reading our guide to the medical negligence claims process.
FAQs About Subdural Haematoma
- What are the types of subdural haematoma?
There are three main types of subdural haematoma, and each develops at a different rate depending on how quickly blood builds up in the subdural space.
The three types are:
- Acute subdural haematoma: This is the most dangerous type. It usually develops within minutes or hours after a severe head injury. The pressure on the brain can increase very quickly and often leads to unconsciousness, coma, or death if not treated immediately.
- Subacute subdural haematoma: Symptoms tend to appear more slowly, over the course of several days. This type may be more difficult to diagnose because the signs are less obvious at first.
- Chronic subdural haematoma: This develops over weeks or even months, often after a minor head injury that may have seemed harmless at the time. It is more common in older adults, particularly those who take blood-thinning medication or have underlying brain conditions such as cerebral atrophy. Because the symptoms are so gradual, people are sometimes misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all until the damage has progressed.
Each type of subdural haematoma carries a risk of brain damage if the condition is not recognised and treated promptly. The specific type also affects how urgent the treatment needs to be and what surgical approach, if any, may be required.
- What are the symptoms of subdural haematoma?
The symptoms of a subdural haematoma can vary widely depending on the type, size and speed at which the blood collects, as well as the person’s age and overall health. Some people show symptoms immediately, while others may not notice anything unusual for days or even weeks.
Common signs include:
- Headaches that do not go away, or get worse.
- Confusion or changes in mental state
- Slurred speech or difficulty speaking
- Drowsiness or difficulty staying awake
- Loss of consciousness or fainting
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- Problems with balance or coordination
- Seizures
- Nausea or vomiting
- Changes in vision or hearing
- Personality or behavioural changes
In older adults, symptoms are often mistaken for other conditions such as dementia, especially in cases of chronic subdural haematoma. Some people may have few or no symptoms until the pressure on the brain becomes severe.
Anyone showing signs of a subdural haematoma should receive urgent medical attention. A delay in diagnosis or treatment increases the risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death.
- What causes a subdural haematoma?
There are a number of potential causes for subdural haemorrhage, including:
- Head injury: A sudden blow to the head, often from a fall, car accident or assault, is the leading cause of acute subdural haematoma. Even a minor head injury can result in a chronic subdural haematoma, especially in older people.
- Alcohol misuse: Long-term alcohol use can lead to brain shrinkage (cerebral atrophy), which increases the size of the subdural space and puts the bridging veins under greater tension. This makes them more likely to tear, even after relatively minor trauma.
- Taking anticoagulant medication: People who are prescribed blood thinners such as warfarin or DOACs (direct oral anticoagulants) are at higher risk of subdural bleeding because their blood takes longer to clot. This makes even a small injury more dangerous.
- Ageing: As people age, the brain naturally shrinks slightly, increasing the risk of tearing the small veins that stretch across the subdural space. This is why chronic subdural haematoma is more common in older patients.
- Brain tumours: Some tumours may interfere with the normal blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk of bleeding or reducing the space available for any blood to drain safely.
- Brain aneurysms: A ruptured aneurysm may sometimes lead to bleeding into the subdural space, although this is more commonly associated with subarachnoid haemorrhage. However, in rare cases, a subdural haematoma may occur as a result.
Other contributing factors include repeated head trauma, low platelet counts, and underlying conditions that affect blood vessels or brain structure. In many cases, more than one factor is involved.
- How should subdural haematoma be diagnosed and treated?
A subdural haematoma should always be treated as a medical emergency. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment can make a crucial difference to the patient’s outcome and may help prevent long-term brain damage or death.
Diagnosis usually involves:
- Clinical assessment: A doctor will assess the person’s symptoms, check for neurological changes, and ask about any recent head injury or loss of consciousness.
- CT scan: A CT scan is the most common and effective way to detect bleeding in the subdural space. It allows doctors to see the size and location of the haematoma and any pressure it may be placing on the brain.
- MRI scan: In some cases, an MRI may be used to provide more detailed images, particularly in people with chronic or subacute symptoms.
Any delay in recognising the symptoms or arranging appropriate scans can lead to a rapid deterioration in the patient’s condition, especially in cases of acute subdural haematoma.
Treatment depends on the severity and type of haematoma:
- Observation and monitoring: If the haematoma is small and symptoms are mild, doctors may choose to monitor the condition closely using repeat imaging. This is more common in chronic cases.
- Surgical treatment: Larger haematomas or those causing increased intracranial pressure often require surgery. Procedures may include:
- Burr hole drainage: A small hole is drilled into the skull to allow blood to drain out.
- Craniotomy: A larger section of skull is temporarily removed to access and remove the blood clot.
- Medication: Patients may need medication to control seizures, manage swelling, or adjust blood-thinning treatment if they are on anticoagulants.
After treatment, recovery may involve neurorehabilitation, physiotherapy, and ongoing monitoring to reduce the risk of complications or further bleeding. The extent of recovery depends on many factors, including how quickly the haematoma was diagnosed and treated.
Talk to Us
If you or someone close to you has been affected by a subdural haematoma and you believe medical negligence may have played a part, we are here to help. Our team will listen to what happened, explain your options clearly, and guide you through every stage of the claims process with compassion and care.
To speak to one of JMW’s specialist solicitors, call us today on 0345 872 6666, or complete our online enquiry form and we will be in touch as soon as we can.
