What are personal injuries claims
Personal injuries are when an injury caused to a person. If another person or organisation's actions or negligence caused your injury, you may be able to make a personal injuries claim.
You may be able to claim compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain, and trauma. You should consider getting legal advice to better understand your options.
Personal injuries claims can include but are not limited to road traffic accidents, workplace incidents or public liability claims.
You have two years from the date of the accident or injury to make your personal injuries claim.
If someone under eighteen years of age is injured, a claim can be made for them at any time before they turn eighteen. After they turn eighteen, they have two years to make the claim themselves.
Before they can proceed to court, most personal injuries claims must first be assessed by the Injuries Resolution Board.
Applying to the Injuries Resolution Board
The Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) is an independent state body in Ireland. Their role is to assess and resolve personal injuries claims to avoid going through a long court process. They deal with claims such as;
- road traffic incidents
- workplace injuries
- public liability
- occupiers’ liability
- fatal injuries
If you cannot resolve your claim through the IRB, they will give you authorisation to bring your claim to the court.
Certain claims do not need to go through the IRB and can go straight to court. These include medical or clinical negligence, defamation, and claims under the Montreal, Warsaw, or Athens conventions (air and sea accidents).
