Brain Aneurysm Negligence Claims

When medical professionals fail to meet the expected standard of care when diagnosing or treating a brain aneurysm, the results can be life-altering. If you or a loved one suffered avoidable harm due to substandard care, you may be entitled to make a brain aneurysm negligence claim.

A mismanaged brain aneurysm can result in severe complications like stroke, paralysis, cognitive impairment, or even death. This can be due to various forms of negligence, such as misinterpreting scans, failing to make a specialist referral and surgical errors.

We understand how distressing it can be to experience harm because of medical negligence. Our team of specialist solicitors are here to support you every step of the way, offering free legal advice and a no win no fee service if you are eligible to proceed.

For a no-obligation consultation, call 0800 470 0474 today or use our online claim form to request a callback.

Table of Contents

• Am I entitled to pursue a brain aneurysm negligence claim?
• How do I make a claim for brain aneurysm negligence?
• What is a brain aneurysm?
• What are the symptoms and causes of a brain aneurysm?
• How are brain aneurysms diagnosed and treated?
• What is brain aneurysm negligence?
• What could be the consequences of negligent medical treatment of an aneurysm?
• Can I make a compensation claim against the NHS?
• What evidence do I need to support my claim?
• What is the time limit for starting a claim for medical negligence?
• Can I make a claim on behalf of a loved one?
• Can I claim compensation if a loved one died because of negligent brain aneurysm treatment?
• How much compensation could I receive for brain aneurysm negligence?
• Will I receive a No Win No Fee service?
• Start your brain aneurysm negligence claim today!

Am I entitled to pursue a brain aneurysm negligence claim?

The easiest way to find out if you can proceed with a claim for a brain aneurysm is through a free consultation with a medical negligence solicitor. Generally, you can seek compensation if the following criteria can be established:

• A duty of care was owed to you. This applies to all patients receiving medical care from a healthcare professional.
• A breach of duty occurred. The medical care you received fell below the standard expected of a reasonably competent professional in the same field, under similar circumstances.
• Causation. The breach of duty directly caused you avoidable harm, such as a new injury or the worsening of your condition.
• Damages. You suffered losses as a result, such as physical pain, suffering, disability and financial losses.

How do I make a claim for brain aneurysm negligence?

If you want to make a claim for negligent medical care, the first thing you should do is seek legal advice. If you are entitled to compensation, they will:

• Assist you in collecting all the necessary supporting evidence.
• Obtain a report from an independent medical expert who will review your records to determine if you received substandard care.
• Send a letter of claim to the defendant, outlining your allegations of negligence and the amount of compensation you are claiming.
• Negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf if the defendant admits liability for your harm.
• Issue court proceedings if liability is denied or you cannot reach a settlement.

If your medical negligence claim is successful, you will typically receive your compensation within a few weeks of the settlement or court order.

What is a brain aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm, also known as an intracranial aneurysm, is a localised bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel within the brain. A particular type of aneurysm, called a saccular aneurysm, looks like a berry hanging from the stem.

Brain aneurysms are common, and most of them are not serious or dangerous, especially if they are small. However, if an aneurysm ruptures, it can become life-threatening, and it needs urgent medical treatment.

In some people, an aneurysm that hasn’t ruptured will need to be treated. This will depend on whether the risk is lower than the risk of a future ruptured aneurysm.

What are the symptoms and causes of a brain aneurysm?

While it may be difficult to pinpoint the precise cause of a brain aneurysm, common risk factors include:

• High blood pressure, which damages blood vessels over time
• Smoking, which weakens blood vessels
• Head trauma or injury
• Infections of the arteries in the brain (mycotic aneurysm)
• A family history of aneurysms
• Being over the age of 40

Most brain aneurysms don’t cause symptoms unless they rupture and cause a subarachnoid haemorrhage (bleeding in the space between the brain and the tissues that cover it). In this case, you might experience:

• A sudden, severe headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• A stiff neck
• Blurred or double vision
• Extreme sensitivity to light
• Loss of consciousness or seizures
• Confusion and difficulty concentrating

A ruptured aneurysm is a medical emergency that needs immediate medical treatment to prevent long-term damage and ensure the best recovery.

How are brain aneurysms diagnosed and treated?

Brain aneurysms typically cause no symptoms until they rupture. If a brain aneurysm is suspected, diagnostic tests include:

• CT scans are often performed first, especially in emergencies, to detect bleeding.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to get detailed images of the brain.
• A lumbar puncture can also be performed to look for blood in the cerebrospinal fluid if a ruptured aneurysm is suspected.

Treatment depends on whether the aneurysm has ruptured, its size, location and your overall health and could include:

• Watchful waiting for small, asymptomatic aneurysms.
• Surgical clipping – an open brain surgery where a small metal clip is applied to the base of the aneurysm to block blood flow to it.
• Coiling – a procedure that uses a catheter to insert a tiny platinum coil to fill the aneurysm and block blood flow.
• Recovery and rehabilitation, including physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.

What is brain aneurysm negligence?

Brain aneurysm negligence occurs when a medical professional’s care falls below the acceptable standard, leading to avoidable harm. Examples include:

• Failing to investigate the symptoms of an aneurysm properly.
• Misinterpreting diagnostic scans, such as CT scans or MRIs.
• Failing to make a specialist referral for a thorough assessment.
• Delays in performing diagnostic tests.
• Errors during treatment.
• Not performing surgery within a reasonable timeframe.
• Failing to identify an aneurysm before it ruptured.
• Not being offered adequate rehabilitation and therapy.
• Not being provided preventive treatment for a high-risk aneurysm.
• Being discharged prematurely from the hospital.
• Failing to provide adequate post-operative care.

If you suffered harm due to any of these or other types of negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.

What could be the consequences of negligent medical treatment of an aneurysm?

Medical negligence in diagnosing or treating a brain aneurysm can lead to:

• Subarachnoid haemorrhage and stroke.
• Permanent brain damage caused by hydrocephalus or a narrowing of the blood vessels.
• Severe neurological deficits, such as paralysis, speech difficulties and cognitive impairment.
• Coma or vegetative state.
• Emotional and psychological trauma, including depression.
• Rebleeding, where the aneurysm bursts again if not properly treated.
• Problems with memory and concentration.
• New injuries can be caused by mistakes during surgery.
• A significant financial impact due to loss of earnings and long-term care needs.

Your solicitor will ensure that your brain aneurysm compensation covers all the harm suffered because of the negligence.

Can I make a compensation claim against the NHS?

Yes, it is completely acceptable to make a claim against the NHS if you suffered harm as a result of poor aneurysm care and treatment.

All NHS medical staff are covered by NHS Resolution, a body of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) acting as an insurer for the NHS.

If your claim is successful, the compensation will be paid by this body, and it will not affect hospital budgets or the funds allocated for patient care. Furthermore, it could help prevent similar mistakes in the future, so you should not feel bad about pursuing compensation.

What evidence do I need to support my claim?

To build a strong clinical negligence claim for a brain aneurysm, your solicitor will help you gather various types of evidence, such as:

• All your medical records, including doctor’s notes, brain scans and treatment plans.
• Independent reports from medical experts detailing whether the care you received was negligent.
• Statements from friends, family and other witnesses to your negligent aneurysm treatment and its impact on your life.
• A personal diary detailing your symptoms and how the negligence has affected your work, daily life and independence.
• Financial records that prove related losses, such as payslips, receipts, and invoices.

What is the time limit for starting a claim for medical negligence?

In most cases, you have three years to claim if you suffer a brain injury due to medical negligence, starting from one of the following:

• The date of the negligent treatment.
• The date of knowledge – when you first became aware that your injury was possibly caused by medical negligence.

There are a few important exceptions to the time limit, which you can read more about here: How long do I have to start a personal injury claim?

Can I make a claim on behalf of a loved one?

If your loved one suffered a brain aneurysm injury as a result of clinical negligence, you could claim compensation on their behalf as their litigation friend if they are either:

• A child under 18.
• An adult who lacks the mental capacity to handle their own legal claim, either due to brain damage from the aneurysm or a pre-existing condition such as Down’s Syndrome.

Your solicitor will guide you through the process of being appointed as a litigation friend, ensuring you meet the requirements and can act in the claimant’s best interests.

Can I claim compensation if a loved one died because of negligent brain aneurysm treatment?

You may be able to claim compensation if a loved one has died as a result of a mismanaged aneurysm and you qualify as their dependant. Your claim could include the following:

• The loss of financial support from your loved one.
• Loss of services such as childcare and housekeeping.
• Reasonable funeral expenses, like wreaths and the headstone.
• The pain, suffering and financial losses incurred by your loved one before passing away.
• A bereavement award of £15,120 as recognition of your grief and the wrongful death.

How much compensation could I receive for brain aneurysm negligence?

The compensation you may receive for an injury caused by brain aneurysm negligence will be based on two types of damages:

• General damages, covering your pain, suffering and loss of amenity.
• Special damages, covering any related financial losses and expenses.

For example, you could receive:

• £2,690 to £15,580 for a minor brain injury.
• £267,340 to £346,890 for paraplegia.
• £396,140 to £493,000 for tetraplegia.
• Up to £66,920 for loss of sight in one eye.
• Up to £327,940 for total blindness.

Please visit our online compensation calculator to learn more about how much compensation your personal injury claim could be worth.

Will I receive a No Win No Fee service?

If you are entitled to make a claim for a mismanaged aneurysm, our medical negligence team will offer you a 100% no win no fee agreement. This means:

• You pay nothing upfront.
• If your claim fails, you will not have to pay your injury lawyer a penny.
• You only pay a success fee if you win the claim. This will be deducted from your compensation award, and it is capped at 25% of it.

Start your brain aneurysm negligence claim today!

If you or a loved one suffered unnecessary harm due to a brain haemorrhage caused by the negligent diagnosis or treatment of an aneurysm, we’re here to help.

Our team of experienced solicitors can assess your case, explain your options and support you through every step of your claim. They offer a compassionate approach and will handle all legal proceedings on your behalf.

To get started, call 0800 470 0474 today or fill out our online contact form to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation.

Last edited on 29th Aug 2025

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.