Injury Claims* in Ireland: All You Need to Know

Your essential guide to injury claims in Ireland, including how much you can expect to get in compensation.

Personal Injury covers many kinds of accidents and incidents — from slips in the supermarket, to incidents at work, car crashes and a lot more — and they can be hard to recover from as the physical and emotional impact can be devastating. Getting compensated for what happened to you won’t fix everything, but it will certainly help to get your life back together.

That is why, with personal Injury Claims in Ireland, it is important to know what steps to take so that you do end up with a financial award you’re happy with. Most people, understandably, are simply not aware of personal injury law in Ireland and the procedures involved to make a successful claim. Here, we present a basic outline of what to do if you find yourself seeking personal injury compensation, and you can get a free and detailed guide by following the link at the end of this blog.

Injury Claims: Don’t Say Sorry

The golden rule in any kind of accident, whether you were at fault or not, is to never admit liability (indeed, it may well be a condition of your motor insurance never to say sorry, and admitting liability may invalidate it). It means not rushing to say you caused an accident and that you were in the wrong. You may well have been, but equally, in any kind of confused situation, the other party could also be at fault.

If the other person immediately says it was their fault and tries to settle straight away, don’t agree to it. The same goes for their insurance company. If they are on to you shortly after the accident and want to make a payout, do not do anything before seeking legal advice, as the chances are you could end up with far less than you’re entitled to.

Injury Claims: Calculating Compensation

Next, you need to know what you’re dealing with and approximately how much you can expect in compensation for the kind of injury you have and its severity. Personal injury claims in Ireland have to go through the Personal Injury Assessment Board — a statutory body set up to make claiming easy and affordable — but it only has a rough guide to compensation amounts (known as the Book of Quantum) and you really need some expertise in this area.

This is where a solicitor experienced in personal injury claims in Ireland comes in. They will be able to assess your case and tell you of its chances of success, while also taking into account the broader compensation picture. This includes such vital elements as loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and medical and other expenses you’re having to pay. These can all be factored into the claim, with the aim of attaining the compensation amount you deserve.

DIY Injury Claims in Ireland?

While the Injuries Board says people making injury claims in Ireland don’t need a solicitor and can make the application themselves, the reality can often be different. Having a legal expert on your side may boost your chances of success at the Injuries Board, as they can handle every aspect of the claim for you, including making the application. But not only that: they can also deal with insurance companies. This increases your chances of getting the kind of compensation you’re expecting, or even more.

Finally, you only have two years to make a personal injuries claim in Ireland from the time of the accident — and with everything that’s involved, it can go by in a flash. If you’re going to make a claim, you need to act now and not put it off. After all of this, if the Injuries Board does not make an award that’s sufficiently high enough, your solicitor will be ready to take the case further, to court, and do their best to get you a substantial amount.

You can now download a FREE copy of our expert guide to making personal injury claims right now. If you would like to discuss making a personal injury claim in Ireland, in complete confidence, get in touch with McCarthy & Co solicitors today. You can find out your chances of success and how much you could be given in a financial award.

* In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.

The post Injury Claims* in Ireland: All You Need to Know | McCarthy & Co Solicitors appeared first on McCarthy & Co. Solicitors.