Road Traffic Accident Claims

Road traffic accident claims are the most common of all personal injury claims presented to solicitors and the Injuries Board. A road traffic accident can be a traumatic experience regardless of the seriousness of the crash or whether you suffered any personal injuries. 

If you have been involved in a crash that was not your fault, you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim along with any damage sustained to your vehicle. 

• Car accidents.
• Cyclist accidents.
• Motorcycle accidents.
• Taxi passenger accidents
• Rear end collisions.
• Pedestrian accidents.
• Public transport accidents.
• Fatal road traffic accidents.
• Claims against uninsured Drivers and unidentified vehicles

• Firstly, you need to check  if you, any passengers and anybody else involved in the accident needs medical attention and to call an ambulance to ensure that medical care is received as soon as possible.

  It is essential that, if you have suffered a personal injury that you book an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible after the accident, even if you are involved in a minor road traffic accident. Unfortunately, seemingly minor injuries can develop into more severe threat to your health if left untreated. 

  After seeking medical attention, these are the steps you should follow:

  1. Call the Gardaí

  Regardless of the severity of the road traffic accident, you should call the Gardaí to report the accident immediately. It is essential that they take details of the accident and to take your statement about the crash.

  2. Gather the relevant information

  • Details of the people involved: name, address, contact information, vehicle registration number and vehicle insurance information. You could also offer your information to the others involved in the accident.
  • Name and contact details of any emergency service workers at the scene, paramedic/ Gardai.
  • Take a picture of the scene, from different angles; this will help your solicitor understand how the accident happened.
  • Time and date of the accident.
  • Weather conditions at the time.

  3. Witnesses 

  Acquire details of any witnesses of the accident. They may be helpful when it comes to claiming after the accident.

  4. Speak to a solicitor

  Following a road traffic accident, you should contact a solicitor as soon as possible if you are thinking of moving forward with a personal injury claim or road traffic accident claim. If proceeding with a claim, the first step will be submitting your claim to the Injuries Board. Our road traffic accident specialist solicitors can help you in preparing your application to the Injuries Board and ensure that you follow the process in the correct format.

  It is important to remember to keep copies of any expenses that you have incurred as a result of the accident and also to retain copies of medical reports or Garda reports, where possible.

If you have suffered as a result of a road traffic accident, you may be entitled to personal injury compensation. These are called damages:

General Damages

Non-financial damages such as pain and suffering or physical and emotional injuries following a road traffic accident.

Special Damages

Out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the road traffic accident . For example, loss of earnings, medical bills, and added travel costs as a result of the crash. This may consist of travel to and from the hospital.

Material Damages

Material damage refers to damage caused to your personal property. In a road traffic accident, the material damage would be the damage to your car.