What is a Car Accident Claims Claim?
Car accident claims cover collisions between private vehicles on Irish roads. This includes rear-end impacts, failures to yield at junctions, overtaking accidents, multi-car pile-ups, and car park collisions. The claim is made against the at-fault driver’s motor insurance.
Am I Entitled to Claim?
You may be entitled to claim if another driver was negligent and you were injured as a result. Typical scenarios include being hit from behind at traffic lights, being struck by a driver who failed to stop at a junction, being hit by a driver changing lanes without indicating, or being a passenger in a vehicle whose driver caused a collision.
Step-by-Step Process
Call Gardai
If anyone is injured or the damage is significant, you must report the collision. Get the Pulse number.
Exchange Details
Full name, address, insurance details, and vehicle registration with the other driver.
See a Doctor
Attend A&E or your GP on the day of the collision where possible. Symptoms can develop.
Contact Keans
Free consultation. We take the details, request evidence, and start your claim.
IRB Submission
We submit your claim to the Injuries Resolution Board with medical and loss documentation.
Settle or Proceed
If the IRB assessment is accepted, you receive your compensation. If not, we proceed to court.
Evidence That Strengthens Your Claim
The stronger the evidence, the more straightforward the claim. Where possible, gather the following:
- Photos of vehicle damage, the road layout, and visible injuries
- Dash-cam footage from your vehicle or nearby vehicles
- CCTV from shops, forecourts, or traffic cameras in the area
- Garda incident reference number (Pulse ID)
- Contact details of any passengers or independent witnesses
- Your vehicle repair invoices and any write-off valuation
- Medical records from A&E, your GP, and any specialist referrals
Compensation Ranges
Based on the Judicial Council’s Personal Injury Guidelines 2021. Awards may also include special damages for lost earnings, medical costs, and future care needs. Exact value depends on your specific injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
It helps, but insurers often retract or dispute on-scene admissions. Contemporaneous evidence matters more: photos, dash-cam footage, Garda reports, and independent witnesses. We secure these early so your claim cannot be undermined later.
Property damage is handled separately through the motor insurance claim. Your personal injury claim covers your physical and psychological injuries, any lost earnings, medical costs, and related out-of-pocket expenses.
Yes. Whiplash and soft tissue injuries commonly take 24 to 72 hours to present. See your GP as soon as symptoms appear and tell them exactly when the collision happened. Contact us to start your claim.
Yes. Passengers are almost always entitled to claim, either against the driver of the vehicle they were in or against the other driver, depending on fault. The outcome does not usually affect personal relationships because the money comes from the insurer.
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.