How compensation is calculated in Ireland
Personal injury compensation in Ireland is built from two parts. General damages are awarded for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by the injury. They are valued using the Judicial Council’s Personal Injury Guidelines 2021, which replaced the old Book of Quantum and substantially reduced awards for soft-tissue injuries. Special damages cover the financial losses you actually incurred: lost earnings, medical bills, vehicle repairs, treatment costs, and out-of-pocket expenses.
The Injuries Resolution Board (IRB, formerly PIAB) assesses most personal injury claims before they go to court. Their data offers the clearest picture of what real Irish claims are actually worth.
Estimate your claim value
Pick the claim type and severity. The calculator returns a typical range based on Irish Judicial Council Guidelines and IRB award data for similar claims. This is not a quote.
Important: This is an estimate only, based on Injuries Resolution Board H1 2025 award data and the Judicial Council’s Personal Injury Guidelines 2021. Your actual compensation depends on the specific injury, recovery, lost earnings, and other factors. For an accurate assessment, request a free consultation with a Keans solicitor.
Personal injury statistics Ireland H1 2025
Headline figures from the Injuries Resolution Board’s ninth Award Values report, covering 4,342 assessments completed between 1st January and 30th June 2025.
Source: Injuries Resolution Board, Personal Injuries Award Values Report No. 9 (April 2026), covering 1 January – 30 June 2025.
Median and average awards by claim type (H1 2025)
The Board’s data confirms workplace claims attract the highest average awards, while motor liability remains the highest-volume category at 69% of all assessments.
| Claim type | Median award | Average award | % of awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor liability | €12,552 | €17,686 | 69% |
| Public liability | €12,677 | €19,816 | 15% |
| Employer liability | €20,250 | €28,330 | 12% |
| Garda Compensation Scheme | n/a | n/a | 4% |
| Overall | €13,300 | €19,343 | 100% |
Source: IRB Award Values Report H1 2025, Tables 1 and 2.
Distribution of award values H1 2025
Almost 60% of awards are now valued under €15,000, compared to 30% in 2020. The Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021 reduced the value of soft-tissue injury claims significantly.
| Award band | % of all awards H1 2025 | % of motor | % of public | % of employer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than €5,000 | 15% | 15% | 17% | 6% |
| €5,000 – €10,000 | 22% | 23% | 22% | 14% |
| €10,000 – €15,000 | 19% | 20% | 14% | 14% |
| €15,000 – €20,000 | 14% | 14% | 10% | 14% |
| €20,000 – €25,000 | 10% | 10% | 9% | 12% |
| €25,000 – €50,000 | 14% | 11% | 18% | 22% |
| €50,000 or more | 7% | 5% | 8% | 17% |
Source: IRB Award Values Report H1 2025, Table 3.
How the Personal Injuries Guidelines have changed compensation
The Judicial Council’s Personal Injury Guidelines came into effect in April 2021, replacing the Book of Quantum. The IRB’s data shows the cumulative impact:
Median awards down 28% versus 2020. Average awards down 19% versus 2020. Public liability awards have seen the steepest reduction in median value at 39% lower. Awards under €15,000 now account for almost 60% of all assessments compared to 30% pre-Guidelines.
Despite the reductions, awards over €50,000 have stabilised at 7% of total volume, indicating that more complex and severe cases are being retained by the IRB rather than progressing to litigation.
Most common injuries by claim type (H1 2025)
These five injuries account for the majority of awards in each category. The IRB tracks the "Most Significant" injury per claim.
| Motor liability | Public liability | Employer liability |
|---|---|---|
| Neck — 32% | Ankle — 11% | Hand, finger and thumb — 18% |
| Back — 25% | Shoulder — 10% | Back — 14% |
| Psychiatric damage — 16% | Back — 9% | Psychiatric damage — 9% |
| Shoulder — 9% | Knee — 8% | Knee — 9% |
| Knee — 3% | Psychiatric damage — 7% | Ankle — 7% |
Source: IRB Award Values Report H1 2025, Table 11.
Highest awards in H1 2025
The largest awards reported by the Injuries Resolution Board between January and June 2025: motor liability €284,047 (severe injuries), public liability €134,892 (non-facial scarring), employer liability €171,837 (severe neck injury). Catastrophic injury cases are typically retained for litigation rather than IRB assessment, so the actual top end of court-awarded compensation is significantly higher.
General damages versus special damages
The IRB reports the median general damages award (pain and suffering only) at €12,000 in H1 2025. Median special damages (financial losses) sit at €837 across all claim types, with employer liability cases attracting much higher special damages: median €1,600, average €5,261. This reflects longer absences from work and higher treatment costs in workplace accidents.
Frequently asked questions about compensation
It gives an evidence-based estimate using IRB H1 2025 data and the Judicial Council Guidelines. It is not a guarantee. Real compensation depends on the specific injury, recovery, lost earnings, future care needs, and any contributory negligence. For an accurate figure for your case, talk to a solicitor.
The median is the middle award value when all assessments are sorted in order. Half the awards in that category are higher, half are lower. It is more reliable than the average, which is pulled up by a small number of very high awards.
Yes. The calculator returns a typical range. Severe or unusually complex cases routinely settle above the upper end. Cases that proceed to court can result in significantly higher awards. The calculator is conservative by design.
Lost earnings (past and projected), medical and treatment costs, vehicle repair or replacement, prescription costs, travel costs to medical appointments, future care needs, and any other quantifiable financial loss caused by the injury. We document all of these for any Keans claim.
No. Medical negligence is excluded from IRB assessment and proceeds directly to court. Awards in medical negligence cases are generally higher and more variable. We have a dedicated team for medical negligence work.
Two years from the date of the accident or from when you first became aware of the injury. The two-year clock is strict. Contact a solicitor as early as possible.
The Injuries Resolution Board (formerly PIAB) Award Values Report Number 9, published April 2026, covering all assessments between 1 January and 30 June 2025. The IRB is the independent State body that assesses most Irish personal injury claims. Full report: injuries.ie.
Get a real assessment of your claim
Free consultation with a Keans solicitor. We review the facts, the evidence, and tell you honestly what your case is worth and how to proceed.