As a small business owner, you will often rely on the services of outsiders to handle certain aspects of the business. This is a smart way to complete important business tasks, reduce stress and free up time to focus on the business.

You expect this work to be carried out expertly but sometimes you might find some kind of issues or mistakes which can be costly and frustrating. So, what should you do about it?

Professional Negligence Claims

If you feel that you have been let down by a professional then you may be able to file for a professional negligence claim. These can be made against many types of individuals but most often they are filed against:

• Accountants
• Solicitors
• Barristers
• Architects
• Surveyors
• Financial advisors
• Doctors
• Engineers

Common Reasons

There are also many common reasons that you see a business owner make a professional negligence claim. This could be because the advice or service that they provided resulted in a loss, a badly drawn up contract, failure to identify serious issues or general poor standard work. Essentially, if you have incurred a loss as a direct result of their professional guidance or their services were not as described then you could have a case.

Making a Claim

To file a professional negligence claim you will need to find a solicitor that specialises in this area. They will then listen to your grievance to determine whether or not you have a case.

To move forwards with the claim, you may need to be able to provide some kind of supporting evidence which might involve emails, invoices, contracts and figure out what losses you incurred as a result. Many professional negligence lawyers offer a “no win, no fee” service which offers financial protection while also showing their confidence if they decide to move ahead with the claim.

Time Limits

It is important to note that there are statutory time limits when it comes to filing a professional negligence court claim – you will need to make a claim within six years of the data of the loss. These can be difficult to apply in practice so it is a good idea to contact a solicitor sooner rather than later.

It can be incredibly frustrating to feel let down by a professional because you do not expect this and it can cause all kinds of issues for your company. The good news is that you can file for compensation in the form of a professional negligence claim which can help to cover any financial loss and hold the responsible party accountable.