Personal Injury Law in Ireland
A Personal Injury Checklist
No one wants to go through the pain and suffering associated with a personal injury accident. Unfortunately, without proper representation, many injured persons never receive the proper compensation after an accident, just lending insult to injury.
If you've been injured through no fault of your own, a solicitor can intercede on your behalf with insurance companies before you file with the Personal Injury Assessment Board (PIAB).
Below, we've outlined a few things your solicitor might need before going to the insurance company:
1. An accident report, where one exists.
2. Any witness statements, where available.
3. Any reports about the area in which you were injured.
This is important if you were injured as a result of faulty maintenance (such as proper snow or ice removal, ill-maintained stairs, cracked floors, etc).
4. Pictures of your injuries.
Occasionally, your solicitor will need photographs of your injury to take to the insurance company.
5. Photos of the scene of the accident.
Especially if it is a traffic accident, it's important to get pictures of the accident scene (before the vehicles are moved, preferably), the cars involved, tire marks, and damage to the vehicles.
6. Medical reports from your initial treatment.
A copy of the medical reports of treatment you received that detail your injuries immediately following the accident will be very important.
7. Additional medical reports from specialists.
Your solicitor may have you go to see medical specialists to monitor long-term effects of your injury, and to determine potential future problems related to your accident and any prolonged effects of your injury.
8. Reports from experts.
In certain personal injury cases, expert advice and knowledge may be required to make your case. Your solicitor may need to interview experts regarding certain aspects of your case (such as structural engineers, for example, if you were injured because of faulty building standards or poor maintenance).
9. Time.
Because personal injury law in Ireland is so closely regulated, making your case to the insurance companies can take some time, and, if litigation is needed, even more time will be required to get permission to bring suit from the PIAB. The entire process of personal injury law varies wildly, but it is rare for cases to take fewer than 18 months from start to compensation.
10. Patience.
This is one thing that you will need to have in abundance, and your solicitor will, as well. As stated above, personal injury cases in Ireland can take a long time to sort through, so patience is, indeed, a very good quality to have.
In the end, a solicitor can help make the process of filing a personal injury claim with an insurance company easier, and, with the current personal injury laws in Ireland, a solicitor can also help collecting the proper evidence and papers needed to file with the PIAB, if necessary.
If you've been injured, don't hesitate to call the offices of Damian Nolan & Co., Solicitors (incorporating William A. James & Co.). We are dedicated to getting you the results you need to get on with your life.
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The goal of our firm is to provide honest, courteous and diligent representation while striving to keep your legal costs down and making the legal process as easy as possible on you.
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The solicitors at Damian Nolan & Co.,
Solicitors (incorporating William A.
James & Co.)
have more than 40 years of combined experience
in the following areas of law:
Residential conveyancing, commercial conveyancing, family law, divorce, separations, child custody matters, personal injury*, business law, wills and probate, civil litigation*, employment law, defamation, civil litigation*
Telephone:
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