What is sepsis?
Sepsis is also known as septicaemia or blood poisoning and occurs when your immune system overreacts to an infection, causing inflammation throughout the body that can damage tissues and organs.
Without timely treatment, it can lead to life-changing complications or even death. Commonly referred to as blood poisoning, sepsis can stem from infections in the lungs, urinary tract, skin, or wounds.
While not all infections lead to sepsis, certain people may be more vulnerable, including during pregnancy, infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
Can sepsis be caused by negligence?
Sometimes, yes. Here are some common medical negligence scenarios that cause sepsis:
- Failure to diagnose or delay in diagnosing sepsis.
- Misdiagnosis of sepsis, leading to incorrect treatment.
- Prescribing the wrong medication.
- Delayed or substandard treatment causing the condition to develop.
- Poor hygiene or care standards causing an infection to progress to sepsis.
- Surgical errors leading to postoperative infections.
If any of these incidents happened to you, you may be eligible to make a sepsis compensation claim.
Sepsis due to accident injuries
In some cases, an external injury like a wound or burn from an accident may develop into sepsis. Such wounds or burns can occur from an accident such as a road traffic accident, as a driver, passenger, motorcyclist, pedestrian or cyclist.
If symptoms are not noticed and acted upon quickly by your healthcare professional, or if the injury was due to an accident that wasn't your fault, you may be able to make a claim.
Did you know?
Nearly 80,000 people each year suffer life-changing after-effects as a result of sepsis. And, is the cause of up to 48,000 deaths in the UK every year.
Source: Source: The UK Sepsis Trust
Can you make a sepsis negligence claim?
If you have suffered from sepsis due to medical negligence, such as an error or delay in recognising your sepsis symptoms, you may be able to claim compensation.
We can help you understand if you could be eligible to make a claim to get the compensation that can help you recover. Call us today for free on
We're here to help you claim sepsis compensation
If your case of sepsis was caused or worsened by someone else's negligence, then we may be able to help you make a no win no fee claim for sepsis compensation. We work with a national panel of law firms that include specialist sepsis lawyers who'll support you throughout your claim.
Contact us for free, impartial advice about claiming on {Medtel} or fill in our secure online form to request a no-obligation callback.
Support for fatal sepsis cases
Losing a loved one to sepsis is devastating, and we understand the emotional toll. If negligence contributed to a family member's fatal sepsis infection, you may be eligible for a fatality compensation claim.
Whilst compensation can't bring your loved one back, it can hold those responsible accountable and help support the lives that have been affected by the loss.
Why choose us?
We partner with a national network of specialist solicitors experienced in sepsis claims. With us, you'll be treated with respect, compassion and clear communication, ensuring that you receive reliable support every step of the way.
- No win, no fee claims and no upfront costs.
- Specialist solicitors - experts in medical negligence.
- Free, no-obligation advice about making a claim
- Over 31 years of experience helping people like you.
- UK's most trusted personal injury specialists - rated ‘Excellent' on Trustpilot.
For more information or to start your claim, contact us at or request a callback.
Who is most at risk of sepsis?
Although anyone could suffer from sepsis following a wound or injury, certain groups are more vulnerable, including:
- Infants, particularly under one year.
- Elderly individuals over 75.
- People with chronic illnesses like diabetes or compromised immune systems.
- Women who have recently given birth or had a miscarriage or abortion.
Here are some common causes of sepsis that these groups of people could be vulnerable to:
- Respiratory lung infections like pneumonia.
- Kidney, bladder and urinary tract infections plus catheter locations.
- Bloodstream infections (called bacteremia).
- Penetrative wounds or burns.
What are the symptoms of sepsis infection?
If you or someone you care about shows signs of sepsis, seek emergency medical help immediately by dialing 999 or going to your nearest A&E.
Symptoms vary by age and may resemble other conditions like the flu or chest infections.
Sepsis can be hard to diagnose as it can have many symptoms which can differ between children and adults.
Spotting sepsis symptoms in a baby or young child
If your baby or youngster exhibits one or some of the following symptoms, then dial 999 or get to your nearest A&E department:
- Unnaturally pale, blue or blotchy tongue, lips or skin.
- A skin rash that doesn't fade when you roll a glass over it. This could also mean meningitis is present.
- Rapid breathing, breathlessness or any type of breathing difficulty.
- High-pitched, weak crying that you don't recognise as normal.
- A lack of awareness or response, being off their food or continued vomiting.
- Being difficult to wake or sleepier than usual.
- Has swelling, inflammation or redness around a wound.
- Has a very high or very low temperature with signs of shivering.
Spotting sepsis symptoms in an older child or adult
Again, dial 999 or get to A&E if you or a loved one is suffering one or some of the following symptoms:
- Unnaturally pale, blue or blotchy tongue, lips or skin.
- A skin rash that doesn't fade when you roll a glass over it.
- Rapid breathing, breathlessness or any type of breathing difficulty.
- A lack of awareness, confusion or slurred speech.
- Continued vomiting and unable to keep food down.
- Has swelling, inflammation or redness around a wound.
- Has a very high or low temperature, and signs of shivering.
If you've suffered a sepsis infection in the last 3 years that was caused by an incident that was someone else's fault or negligent medical care, contact us for confidentially on . You may be eligible for compensation.
What are the after-effects of a sepsis infection?
In extreme circumstances where sepsis has caused multiple organ failure, the septic shock to the body is fatal.
Where patients respond to treatment, recovery can take a long time and involve many side effects. This is called post-sepsis syndrome and can include:
- Lasting damage to major organs like the brain, lungs, heart and liver.
- Deep and pervasive fatigue.
- Nightmares and difficulty sleeping, possibly with severe insomnia.
- Loss of appetite, mood changes, anxiety or depression.
- Flashbacks and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- A vulnerability to other illnesses or infections.
It's not just the infection itself that can turn your life upside down - so can post-sepsis syndrome. It can limit your ability to work and do all those normal family and social things you used to take for granted.
If your sepsis infection was caused by someone else's negligence then you may be eligible to make a sepsis compensation claim. Contact us for free, impartial advice about the claims process and talk us through your experience on .
Can people make medical negligence sepsis claims against the NHS?
Yes - if you've suffered from sepsis negligence from an NHS service or practitioner in the last three years, then we may be able to help you make an NHS claim for sepsis compensation.
Our panel of medical negligence solicitors are experienced in handling medical negligence NHS claims and can take you through the claims process.
Do sepsis medical negligence claims take money away from the NHS?
No, they don't. Successful claims against the NHS are paid by the NHS Resolution, not any NHS budgets. So you can claim to know that getting what you deserve won't directly affect the NHS.
Mrs. L contracted an infection following a colostomy procedure, and was awarded £150,000
Mrs. L had a history of bowel problems and underwent a colostomy procedure for her condition. As a result of the operation, Mrs. L contracted sepsis of the abdominal tissue and MRSA. She suffered from renal failure, heart failure and deep venous thrombosis in her legs.
What does sepsis compensation cover?
When you make a sepsis claim, your compensation is designed to cover more than just the immediate effects of your injury. It takes into account both the impact on your everyday life and any financial losses you've experienced or will likely encounter as a result of your injury.
- Compensation for your suffering:
First, you can be compensated for the pain, discomfort, and emotional distress caused by your injury. This might include ongoing physical symptoms or the ways your injury has affected your lifestyle, such as not being able to enjoy hobbies or activities as you did before. The more severe and long-lasting the effects, the higher this part of the compensation is likely to be. This part of your compensation is known as ‘general damages'. - Compensation for financial losses:
Next, any out-of-pocket costs related to your injury can also be claimed. This might include medical treatment, prescriptions, and travel expenses for doctor's appointments. If your injury has stopped you from working, any lost earnings can also be included, along with potential future earnings if you're unable to return to work or need ongoing support. If you need long-term care or adaptations to your home, those costs are projected and factored in too. These are referred to as ‘special damages'.
Your legal team will work with you to gather all the necessary evidence, such as receipts and pay slips, to make sure every loss is considered. In short, compensation is about helping you recover financially and making sure the true impact of sepsis is recognised.
How much sepsis compensation can I claim?
If eligible to claim, your exact settlement figure will take into account a number of factors and considerations which will be discussed by your specialist solicitor and the party responsible for your accident. Depending on the type of injury, time taken to recover, ability to work, and whether ongoing care is required, compensation figures vary case by case.
Try our free compensation calculator for a rough indication of how much you could claim. Or you can find out if you're eligible to claim by calling our helpline .
How do I start a sepsis claim?
To check if you're eligible for a sepsis claim, call us free at . Our personal injury advisors will listen to your story, offer guidance on whether you can claim, and, if you wish, connect you with a specialist no win no fee lawyer suited to your case.
We're here to help you and won't rush or pressure you into claiming - it's always your decision. Get in touch with us for a free, no-obligation chat about your circumstances.
Meet Zebastian Darroch - he's one of our highly- experienced and personal injury advisors here at National Accident Helpline.
Like all members of our advisor team, Zeb has great listening skills and understands that sepsis infections can be catastrophically traumatic and can leave life-changing impacts. He's just one member of our team who helps our customers understand whether or not they may have grounds for sepsis claims
Frequently asked questions...
Every case we work with is different, which makes it hard for us to say how long your compensation claim might take.
In simpler cases, where fault is clear and undeniable the claim may be settled quickly. However, if you've suffered a serious or life-changing injury, then your compensation claim may take longer because we need to understand the full impact of your injury and make sure your costs are covered.
Our solicitors will stay in touch and keep you informed every step of the way, so that you always know what stage your claim is at.
Yes you can - all the solicitors we work with, including our own legal firm National Accident Law - are able to handle injury compensation claims under no win no fee terms. This means that if your claim fails, you pay nothing and ensures that making a claim is risk-free.
Yes, of course. Our helpline, our own law firm, the law firms we work with around the country and all insurers are operating as pretty much as normal with many people working securely from home. There may be some minor delays - for example if your ankle injury compensation claim needs a court hearing. However, much of the work is carried out by phone, email and using the government's internet claims system anyway, so things are as close to business as usual as they can be.
Contact us first and we'll check your grounds to claim and then connect you with one of our specialist solicitors if you want to proceed.
No. National Accident Helpline is a brand that belongs to the personal injury legal practice National Accident Law. We're regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the independent professional ethics body that licenses all solicitors in England and Wales. Our SRA number is 655606.
Claims management companies (CMCs) are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). CMCs do not have their own legal practices.
We process personal injury claims as part of National Accident Law. We also work with a national network of specialist personal injury legal firms who we vet very carefully to provide you with the best possible customer experience.
With us, you're in safe and highly-capable hands.
What are the time limits for making sepsis claims?
If you suffered from sepsis negligence, it's important to know that you generally have 3 years from the date of the incident or diagnosis to make a claim. This period is often referred to as the limitation period and refers to the time by which you must either settle your claim or start court proceedings.
It's best to claim as soon as possible so your memory is fresh, and evidence is recent and easier to gather.
You can claim compensation for most accidents that happened to you up to 3 years ago but in some cases, this time frame could be longer or shorter, such as:
- Claiming on behalf of children: You can claim at any point before the child's 18th birthday. After turning 18, they have until age 21 to make their own claim.
- Mental capacity: There are no time limits for claims made on behalf of someone who cannot manage their own case. This has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis and means more than requires assistance. It should also be noted that should the claimant regain capacity at any time after the accident, however briefly, the usual 3 years will start from that date.
Fatal claims: If you're making a claim on behalf of a loved one, you have three years from the date of their passing, or from the date it was discovered an accident or illness was the cause.
No win no fee sepsis claims
Our no win, no fee service takes some of the financial risks out of claiming so you won't pay unless your claim is successful.
This arrangement includes a no-upfront-cost insurance policy to protect you from any costs during the claim process so long as you meet the terms of the agreement, providing you with financial peace of mind.
Speak to us for free, impartial advice on whether you can claim at {MedTel} or fill in our secure online form. We'll be happy to answer your sepsis claims questions and can help you understand whether you could make a claim.
About our solicitors
When you're looking for a personal injury company to help you make your claim, you might be worried about the credibility of the solicitors you'll work with. With us, you're in safe, trusted and proven hands.
We work with a national panel of no win no fee personal injury lawyers who we select carefully based on their skills. This ensures you get the legal representation you need for the best chance of making a successful sepsis compensation claim.
To find out whether you could claim, or for answers to your questions, contact us free on to talk to one of our friendly, personal injury advisors in total confidence.
About National Accident Helpline
We are the UK's leading provider of personal injury advice, services and support and have lent a helping hand to over 2.5 million people nationwide.
Supportive - we help hundreds of people every day.
Experienced - over 31 years' experience means you're in the safest hands.
Trusted - we're rated ‘Excellent' on Trustpilot, with more reviews than any other personal injury claims service in the country.
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Sepsis claims usually involve one form or other of medical negligence. It's a very traumatic health complication for the victim and their loved ones that can have life-changing results, both physically and financially.
Compassion and attention to detail are really important in these claims. The lawyer's job is to build the case and fight the claim so that you and your family can start rebuilding your life.