Professional Negligence Solicitors in Dublin
When you engage a professional—whether a solicitor, accountant, surveyor, architect, or other specialist—you have the right to expect competent, careful service. These professionals owe you a duty of care, and when they fail to meet the required standards, causing you financial loss or other harm, you may have grounds for a professional negligence claim.
At Gary Matthews Solicitors, we specialize in professional negligence claims throughout Ireland. Our experienced legal team has the expertise to pursue claims against professionals who have failed in their duty of care, securing compensation for the losses you've suffered. We work on a no win no fee basis, ensuring access to justice for everyone.
What is Professional Negligence?
Professional negligence occurs when a professional fails to provide services to the standard that a reasonably competent professional in their field would provide, resulting in loss or harm to the client.
To establish professional negligence, you must prove:
- Duty of care: A professional-client relationship existed
- Breach of duty: The professional failed to meet the expected standard of care
- Causation: The breach directly caused your loss
- Loss: You suffered actual financial loss or other quantifiable harm
Types of Professional Negligence Claims
Solicitor Negligence
Solicitors owe clients a high duty of care. Common types of solicitor negligence include:
- Conveyancing errors: Missing property defects, title issues, planning restrictions
- Missing limitation deadlines: Failing to file court proceedings in time
- Poor litigation handling: Inadequate case preparation, missed court dates
- Incorrect legal advice: Giving wrong advice on legal rights or options
- Conflict of interest: Acting for parties with conflicting interests
- Will and probate errors: Mistakes in drafting wills or administering estates
- Family law negligence: Errors in divorce, custody, or maintenance proceedings
- Breach of confidentiality: Disclosing client information improperly
- Failure to advise properly: Not explaining legal implications or risks
Accountant Negligence
Accountants provide crucial financial services. Negligence can include:
- Tax advice errors: Incorrect tax advice leading to penalties or overpayment
- Audit failures: Failing to detect fraud or financial irregularities
- Book-keeping errors: Mistakes in financial record-keeping
- Investment advice: Poor or unsuitable financial advice
- Company formation issues: Errors in setting up business structures
- Missed tax reliefs: Failing to claim available tax benefits
- VAT registration errors: Mistakes with VAT compliance
Surveyor and Valuer Negligence
Property surveyors and valuers can be negligent through:
- Inaccurate property valuations: Over or undervaluing properties
- Missing structural defects: Failing to identify serious property issues
- Damp and subsidence: Not detecting or reporting these problems
- Building survey errors: Inadequate inspection and reporting
- Planning issues: Failing to identify planning restrictions or breaches
- Boundary disputes: Incorrect boundary identification
Architect Negligence
Architects can be liable for:
- Design defects: Flawed designs causing structural problems
- Planning permission failures: Designs not compliant with regulations
- Budget overruns: Poor cost estimation and project management
- Specification errors: Incorrect materials or construction methods
- Inadequate supervision: Poor oversight of construction work
Engineer Negligence
Engineering professionals may be negligent through:
- Faulty structural calculations or designs
- Inadequate site investigation
- Non-compliance with building regulations
- Poor project management
Insurance Broker Negligence
Insurance brokers can fail clients by:
- Arranging inadequate insurance cover
- Failing to disclose material facts to insurers
- Missing policy renewal dates
- Providing incorrect advice on policy terms
Compensation for Professional Negligence
The aim of compensation in professional negligence claims is to put you in the position you would have been in had the negligence not occurred. You may be entitled to claim for:
- Direct financial losses: Money lost due to the negligence
- Loss of opportunity: Missed chances or opportunities
- Consequential losses: Additional costs incurred as a result
- Property damage: Decreased property value or repair costs
- Business losses: Lost profits or business opportunities
- Legal costs: Expenses incurred fixing the problem
- Stress and inconvenience: In appropriate cases
- Interest on losses: To account for time value of money
The Professional Negligence Claims Process
1. Initial Consultation
Contact us for a free consultation. We'll review your case and advise whether you have grounds for a claim. Bring all relevant documentation.
2. Expert Assessment
Professional negligence claims require expert evidence. We instruct independent experts in the relevant field to assess:
- Whether the professional's conduct fell below acceptable standards
- What a competent professional should have done
- The extent of loss caused by the negligence
3. Evidence Gathering
We collect comprehensive evidence including:
- Contracts and engagement letters
- Correspondence with the professional
- Work product or advice provided
- Financial records showing losses
- Expert reports
4. Letter of Claim
We send a detailed Letter of Claim to the professional or their insurers, setting out the allegations and losses claimed.
5. Negotiation or Litigation
Many professional negligence claims settle through negotiation with the professional's insurers. If settlement cannot be reached, we're prepared to issue court proceedings and represent you at trial.
Why Professional Negligence Claims Are Complex
These claims present unique challenges:
- Expert evidence required: You need another professional to critique the work
- Technical complexity: Issues often involve specialized professional knowledge
- Proving causation: Must show the negligence caused the loss
- Professional insurance: Professionals carry insurance specifically to defend claims
- Vigorous defense: Claims are typically strongly defended to protect reputation
- Documentation heavy: Requires extensive paper trail and analysis
Specialist legal expertise is essential. Our team has extensive experience handling professional negligence claims and access to leading experts in all professional fields.
Time Limits for Professional Negligence Claims
In Ireland, you generally have six years from the date of the negligent act (or when you discovered or should have discovered it) to bring a professional negligence claim.
However, we strongly recommend acting quickly because:
- Evidence can be lost or destroyed over time
- Witnesses' memories fade
- Early action can sometimes mitigate losses
- Some limitation periods may be shorter
What You Need to Bring
When contacting us about a professional negligence claim, please gather:
- Engagement letters or contracts with the professional
- All correspondence (emails, letters)
- Advice provided or work product
- Evidence of the loss suffered
- Financial records
- Timeline of events
- Any relevant reports or documents
Why Choose Gary Matthews Solicitors?
- Specialist Expertise - Extensive experience with professional negligence claims
- Expert Witness Network - Access to leading professionals in all fields
- No Win No Fee - You pay nothing unless your claim succeeds
- Thorough Investigation - We leave no stone unturned in building your case
- Maximum Compensation - We fight for full recovery of your losses
- Clear Communication - Complex issues explained in plain English
- Proven Success - Track record of successful settlements and court victories
- 24/7 Availability - Contact us anytime for support
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have a claim?
If you've suffered a financial loss due to poor professional service, you may have a claim. Contact us for a free assessment—we'll tell you honestly whether you have grounds to proceed.
Will my claim affect the professional's reputation?
Professional negligence claims are usually handled by insurance companies and often settle confidentially. However, protecting reputations is not a reason to forego legitimate compensation.
Can I complain to a professional body as well?
Yes, you can make complaints to regulatory bodies (Law Society, accounting bodies, etc.) independently. However, they don't award financial compensation—only legal action can secure that.
What if I can't afford expert reports?
Under our no win no fee arrangement, we cover the cost of expert reports upfront and recover them from the defendant if successful.
Contact Us Today
If you believe you've suffered loss due to professional negligence, don't hesitate to contact Gary Matthews Solicitors. We offer a free, confidential consultation to assess your claim and explain your options. With our no win no fee service, you have nothing to lose.