What is a Personal Injuries Claim?
Personal injury law lets someone who has been hurt recover damages from the person or organisation responsible. It covers physical injuries, psychological injuries, and related losses like earnings, medical bills, and care costs. The legal test is negligence: did the responsible party owe you a duty of care, did they breach it, and did that breach cause your injury?
Am I Entitled to Claim?
You may be entitled to claim if another party owed you a duty of care, they breached that duty through action or inaction, you suffered an injury as a result, and the accident happened within the last two years. A free consultation with Keans will tell you quickly whether you have a viable claim and what it may be worth.
Step-by-Step Process
Free Consultation
Tell us what happened. We review the circumstances and let you know if you have a case.
Medical Evidence
We arrange for your injuries to be documented by an appropriate medical expert.
IRB Application
We submit your claim to the Injuries Resolution Board, the mandatory first step for most Irish personal injury claims.
Assessment or Release
The IRB either assesses your claim or releases it so court proceedings can begin.
Negotiation
Most claims settle. If a fair offer is not made, we prepare for and issue court proceedings.
Settlement
You receive your compensation. Our fees are agreed in writing before any work starts.
Evidence That Strengthens Your Claim
The stronger the evidence, the more straightforward the claim. Where possible, gather the following:
- Photos of the scene, the injury, and any property damage taken as soon as possible
- Names and contact details of any witnesses
- GP and hospital records documenting your injuries
- Receipts for medical bills, travel, prescriptions and other out-of-pocket costs
- Payslips or accounts showing earnings lost due to time off work
- An Garda Siochana incident or collision reference number if one was issued
- A diary of how the injury has affected your daily life and recovery
Compensation Ranges
These bands reflect the Judicial Council’s Personal Injury Guidelines 2021 applied across injury categories. Your actual compensation depends on the specific injury, its severity, and associated financial losses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two years from the date of the accident or the date you first became aware of the injury. Certain exceptions apply for minors and cases involving delayed discovery, but the two-year limit is the default. Miss it and your claim is statute barred, so contact a solicitor early.
No. The initial consultation at Keans is free. For personal injury cases we discuss all fees in writing before work begins. In contentious business, Irish law prevents solicitors from calculating fees as a percentage of your award or settlement.
Most personal injury claims settle without a court hearing, either through the Injuries Resolution Board or through direct negotiation with the responsible party’s insurer. If court is required, we prepare you carefully and represent you throughout.
The Injuries Resolution Board (formerly PIAB) is the independent body that assesses most personal injury claims before they can proceed to court. We submit the application on your behalf and handle all correspondence with the Board.
You may still have a claim. Irish law allows for contributory negligence, meaning your compensation can be reduced in proportion to your share of responsibility but not eliminated entirely. We will assess this at consultation.
It depends on the injury, how it has affected your life, and any financial losses you have suffered. Ireland uses the Judicial Council’s Personal Injury Guidelines 2021 as the starting point for valuing claims. We will give you a realistic range after reviewing your case.
Personal Injury Claim Categories
We handle claims across every area of Irish personal injury law. Pick a category below for detail on the process, evidence, and typical compensation ranges.
Road Traffic Accidents
Car, motorcycle, cyclist, pedestrian, bus, taxi and fatal collisions.
Read more →Accidents at Work
Construction, warehouse, office and retail workplace injury claims.
Read more →Accidents in Public Places
Supermarket slips, council footpath trips, pub and bar accidents.
Read more →Medical Negligence
GP misdiagnosis, surgical errors, birth injuries and delayed cancer diagnosis.
Read more →Injuries by Type
Whiplash, back, broken bones and psychological injury claims.
Read more →