Professional Negligence Claims

When you instruct a professional — whether a solicitor, accountant, financial adviser, surveyor, or architect — you place your trust in their expertise. When that trust is broken and their negligent advice or conduct causes you financial loss, you have the right to seek compensation. At Hi Solicitors, our professional negligence team provides clear, effective legal representation for individuals and businesses who have suffered loss as a result of a professional’s failure to meet the standard of care expected of them.

Professional negligence occurs when a professional fails to perform their duties to the standard expected of a reasonably competent person in their field, and that failure causes measurable loss to their client. The threshold is an objective one — it is not enough that you are dissatisfied with the outcome of a matter. The professional must have fallen below the standard that a competent practitioner in the same field would have met. Common examples of professional negligence that we advise on include:

• Solicitor negligence — missed limitation deadlines, negligent advice on litigation, conveyancing errors, failure to register interests in property, or poor advice on settlement
• Accountant negligence — negligent tax advice, failure to identify errors in accounts, incorrect financial reporting causing loss to a business
• Financial adviser negligence — unsuitable investment advice, failure to explain risks adequately, or misrepresentation of a financial product
• Surveyor negligence — failure to identify structural defects, inaccurate valuations, or negligent advice on a property purchase
• Architect or engineer negligence — design errors, failure to comply with building regulations, or negligent project supervision causing financial loss
• Medical professional negligence — substandard care, misdiagnosis, or failure to advise on treatment options that results in personal harm or financial loss

Before issuing court proceedings in a professional negligence case, parties are required to follow the Professional Negligence Pre-Action Protocol. This involves sending a detailed letter of claim to the professional setting out the allegations and the loss suffered, and allowing them a reasonable period to investigate and respond. Our solicitors manage this process carefully — a well-drafted letter of claim sets the tone for the entire dispute and can often lead to a favourable settlement without the need for litigation.

Where a settlement cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to pursue your claim through the courts. Professional negligence cases are typically heard in the County Court or the High Court depending on the value and complexity of the claim, and our team has the experience to represent you effectively at every level. For more complex disputes with a commercial dimension, our commercial litigation team can work alongside your professional negligence solicitor to ensure a fully joined-up approach.

Limitation periods in professional negligence claims are strict. In most cases you have six years from the date of the negligent act, or three years from the date you discovered — or should reasonably have discovered — the negligence, whichever is later. Delaying taking advice risks your claim becoming time-barred. If you suspect you have suffered loss as a result of a professional’s negligence, contact us as soon as possible.

At Hi Solicitors, we understand how frustrating and damaging it is to suffer loss as a result of advice you paid for and trusted. Our solicitors will give you an honest assessment of the merits of your claim from the outset, advise on the realistic prospects of recovery, and work hard to achieve the best possible outcome — whether through negotiation, mediation, or court proceedings. You can read what our clients say about us on our testimonials page and find out more about our team on our meet the team page.

Hi Solicitors is fully regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and all work is carried out to the highest professional standards, with complete transparency on costs at every stage.

Contact our solicitors in Bolton today on 01204 371 414 or arrange a free consultation to discuss your professional negligence claim with our specialist team.