Before you make your claim to the court
You should check if your claim needs to be assessed by the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB). If your claim cannot be resolved through the Injuries Resolution Board you will need their authorisation to make a claim to the court.
If someone under eighteen years of age is injured or if someone is fatally injured, a 'next friend' will have to make the application on their behalf.
A 'next friend' is typically a parent or guardian, but it can be any legally competent adult. They cannot have a conflict of interest with the person they are representing.
Personal injuries cases can be complicated. You should consider getting legal advice to better understand the options available to you.
Where to make your personal injuries claim
You can make a personal injuries claim in the District Court, the Circuit Court and the High Court. The court jurisdiction your claim will be made in usually depends on how much money is being claimed:
- Above €15,000 and up to €60,000 How to make your personal injuries claim in the Circuit Court
Applications made in the wrong jurisdiction may have extra costs. There are court fees associated with civil law cases.
The personal injuries guidelines set out the amounts of money awarded for a range of personal injuries.
All information provided is for guidance only. Before making a decision on how to proceed, you may wish to check the District Court rules, the Circuit Court rules and the High Court rules.
You should also check relevant legislation to ensure your understanding of the process is correct.
