Compensation in Ireland is when you claim for any personal injury suffered in an accident that was not your fault.
In this compensation guide, we will tell you who can make a claim, what you can claim compensation for and how you can claim compensation after an accident.
If you are out of pocket, in pain and unable to work or get the same work you had before the accident, you may have a compensation claim.
A quick look at our compensation guide can be a big help when you need it most.
What is compensation?
In simple terms, compensation is the money you get when you claim for injuries, losses and any costs suffered after an accident that wasn’t your fault.
If you are injured due to someone causing your accident, you may be able to claim compensation from them.
You make a compensation claim through your solicitor, and they deal with the insurance company and the solicitors on the other side of the claim.
What does compensation cover?
Compensation covers everything from your medical expenses to your loss of earnings when you cannot work after an accident.
Your solicitor will explain how compensation works and how you can claim for all the costs and losses due to the accident.
You may not realise how an accident can impact your life today and in the future.
Have you thought about your children and how you will pay for their education? What if they want to go on to third-level after leaving school? If you can’t work, you may not be able to pay for their needs.
Compensation covers all aspects of your financial life, and your solicitor will refer to the compensation as Damages.
What are Damages in a compensation claim?
Damages in a compensation claim in Ireland are the costs and losses of living with the injury and its effects on your life and income.
When claiming personal injury or medical negligence compensation, you have two types of damages.
General Damages in a Compensation Claim
The general damages in a compensation claim are for the suffering due to the broken arm, the soft tissue injury, and other such injuries in an accident in Ireland.
General damages in a compensation claim are for:
- The unnecessary pain
- The long-term suffering
- The impacts of the injury on your life
- Reduced quality of life
- Shortened life expectancy
- Not being able to exercise as before
- Not being able to play sport as before
- PTSD due to the accident
Your solicitor can work with you when making the compensation claim for General Damages.
Special Damages in a Compensation Claim
The special damages in a compensation claim are for the tangible costs due to the injury in an accident that was not your fault.
A special damages claim is for the financial losses and costs of an injury resulting from an accident that has an impact on your life.
You can claim special damages for:
- The costs of medical care today and in the future
- The losses due to being unable to work
- The costs of providing full-time care
- The out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel and other treatments
- Adjustments to the home and car
- Care for your children today
- Care for your children in the future, such as their education
- Care for family members with additional needs
A good personal injury solicitor will talk you through the compensation process and show you how to claim compensation for all damages due to an accident.
Why is compensation awarded in Ireland?
Compensation is awarded in Ireland as you have suffered injury and losses due to an accident that was not your fault.
To put it simply, if someone owes you a duty of care, be it an employer or another road user, and they breach that duty of care, causing you an injury, you could have a compensation claim.
The insurance companies, the Injuries Resolution Board and solicitors look at your claim and decide if compensation should be awarded.
Who can claim compensation in Ireland?
Anyone injured in an accident that was not wholly their fault may be able to claim compensation in Ireland.
Just because you are injured does not automatically mean you can claim compensation, but that’s where a good personal injury solicitor can give you solid advice.
Those who can claim compensation in Ireland:
- Employees injured at work
- Road traffic accident victims
- People injured in public place accidents
- Victims of medical negligence
- Dependents left behind after a fatal injury
- Children injured in accidents
- Slip, trip and fall victims
Any accident that was not your fault and caused you an injury may be due to someone else’s negligence, and you may have one of the many types of compensation claims in Ireland.
Types of compensation claims in Ireland
There are many types of compensation claims in Ireland, from road traffic accident injuries to injuries due to medical negligence.
Working with a good personal injury solicitor can make your claim a lot easier to process and may help you get the compensation you deserve.
Common compensation claims in Ireland:
- Workplace accident claims
- Car accident compensation claims
- Motorcycle accident claims
- Cycling accident claims
- Pedestrian accident claims
- Slip, trip and fall claims
- Medical negligence claims
- Assault injury claims
- Product liability claims
You make the compensation claim against the person or company responsible for your personal injury.
Contact Michael Kelleher Solicitors today
Contact Michael Kelleher Solicitors in Dublin today for all your personal injury claims.
Our team of expert personal injury solicitors can be by your side from day one. We will use our experience to build a strong compensation claim.
At Michael Kelleher Solicitors, we use all the tools available to work for you, the client, when you are injured in an accident that was not your fault.
Call Michael Kelleher Solicitors in Dublin today and get started on your claim for compensation.
FAQs on Compensation Claims in Ireland
What is the time limit for making a compensation claim?
The time limit for making a compensation claim for personal injury is two years in Ireland. A crucial point here is that the two-year time limit only starts from the date when you realise you suffered a personal injury.
The effects of a personal injury may not come to light for months or years, such as a sore back or hip. Often, it is only when you go to the doctor that they realise the pain you have is due to an older injury.
The claim time limit only starts from the date of realisation of the injury.
Can a child make a compensation claim in Ireland?
Yes, a child can make a compensation claim in Ireland. A parent or guardian can make a compensation claim on behalf of a child until the child reaches 18 years of age.
A child can make a compensation claim through a parent or guardian until they turn 18, but they must make it within two years of turning 18, unless the ‘date of realisation’ comes at a later date.
An adult has two years to make the claim after the ‘date of realisation.’
Do I need a solicitor to make a compensation claim?
No, you do not need a solicitor to make a compensation claim, but having one in your corner can make the personal injury claim a lot easier to process.
The right personal injury solicitor will know exactly what to do from day one. The solicitor will know which medical experts to call and how to put together a successful compensation claim.
A personal injury solicitor can make all the difference to a compensation claim.
Can I claim compensation if the accident was partly my fault?
Yes, you can make a compensation claim even if the accident was partly your fault.
The term ‘shared liability’ or ‘partial liability’ allows you to make a compensation claim, even if the accident was partly your own fault.
Your compensation award will be reduced by the percentage of the responsibility you have for the accident.
How long does it take to make a compensation claim in Ireland?
It can take a year or more to make a compensation claim in Ireland. If the other party or their insurance company denies responsibility for the claim, then it could go on for a time until a settlement is reached.
In some more obvious cases, a claim can be settled quickly so that you can get on with your life.
Michael Kelleher Solicitors in Dublin will work hard to make sure your personal injury claim does not take too long to complete.