Useful information

• Personal Injury Claim
• Road Accident Claim
• Serious Injury Claim
• Medical Negligence Claim
• Birth Injury Claim
• PIAB Application Guide
• Statute of Limitation
• No Win No Fee Guide

Car Accident Claim

If you have been involved in a car accident, Coleman Legal LLP can assist you in pursuing a car accident claim for any injuries you may have suffered. You may be entitled to compensation if an accident was not your fault. For a confidential consultation, please call us at 1800-844-104 for free or email [email protected].

5 essential steps to take after a car accident in Ireland

1. Seek medical attention

The first and most crucial action after a car accident is seeking medical attention. Even if you don’t feel injured at the time of the accident, some injuries may not be immediately visible. It’s advisable to visit your local A&E department or consult your GP, no matter how minor you think your injuries are. Seeking medical attention quickly ensures you are adequately treated and creates a record of your injuries, which will be vital for any car accident claims you may make.

2. Gather Information

You’ll need to gather relevant information at the scene to help with future car accident claims. This includes:

• The names, addresses, contact details, and insurance information of everyone involved, including drivers and passengers.
• Details of any emergency services that attended the scene.
• Photographs from various angles show damage, the environment, and any visible injuries.
• Dash cam or CCTV footage, if available.
• Environmental details include the time, date, and weather conditions during the accident.
• Receipts for any expenses incurred from the accident, such as medical bills or vehicle repairs.
• Copies of Garda reports or medical records may be required for future car accident claims.

3. Report the accident to Gardaí

It is mandatory to report all accidents to An Garda Síochána, regardless of how minor the incident may seem. If Gardaí do not attend the scene, visit your local Garda station to ensure the details are recorded and provide a statement. Having an official Garda report can be instrumental in supporting your future claims and ensuring that all legal requirements are met.

4. Notify your insurance provider

Regardless of whether you plan to make a car accident claim, I would like to inform your insurance company about the accident. Many insurance policies require this notification, and failing to report the incident could affect your coverage or complicate the claims process. Make sure to provide accurate details to your insurer as soon as possible.

5. Consult a Solicitor

Please contact a car accident claim solicitor right away if you are considering pursuing a compensation claim. A solicitor can provide essential guidance, helping you understand the claims process, avoid delays, and maximise the compensation you are entitled to. Consulting with an experienced personal injury solicitor ensures you have the support you need to navigate the legal aspects of your case effectively.

Have you been involved in a car accident?

We understand that experiencing an accident at work, in public, or while driving can be traumatic. Not only can they result in significant, life-altering injuries, but they can also harm your capacity to return to work, be detrimental to your finances, and affect your mental health and wellness. If you would like to speak with one of our experienced car accident claim solicitors, please call our Free Phone at 1800-844-104 or complete our online enquiry form.

Am I entitled to a claim?

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, and if the cause of the road traffic accident was not your fault, you may be eligible to seek legal remedy and claim any personal injuries and psychological injuries sustained, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. The claim will also consider the potential long-term adverse effects of the accident on the victim’s quality of life and any additional expenses incurred as a result of the accident, such as fees for medical treatment and loss of earnings due to the accident.

Car accident claim distribution

If you have been involved in a car accident in Ireland and it wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to car accident claim compensation. The compensation you may receive is grouped into three main categories.

1. General damages

General damages are awarded to compensate you for non-financial losses such as physical injuries, psychological trauma, and pain and suffering caused by the accident. The compensation you may receive will depend on the severity of your injuries, their long-term effects, and how they impact your quality of life.

2. Special damages

Special damages refer to the financial losses and expenses incurred due to the accident. This can include loss of earnings due to time off work, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and other costs such as travel to and from hospital appointments.

3. Material damages

Material damages refer to any damage caused to your personal property, such as damage to your vehicle in a car accident. You can claim for the cost of repairing your vehicle or the value of your car if it is written off. It is important to note that the compensation amount for each of the above categories will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. You should need the help of a qualified car accident claim solicitor who can provide legal advice, guide you through the claims process, and ensure you receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to.

Common car accidents

Causes of car accidents?

Road traffic accidents can occur for several different reasons, such as:

• Bad road conditions
• Hazardous weather
• Fatigue
• Blind spots
• Unsafe vehicles
• Unsafe driving practices – speeding, disobeying the rules of the road
• Merging traffic
• Texting while driving
• Driving under the influence

Hence, car accident claims such as car crashes, bicycle crashes, and motorcycle crashes are among the most common cases solicitors submit to the Personal Injuries Board. Negligent behaviours and actions on the road by drivers can lead to many unfortunate road traffic accidents. Most car accident claims submitted to the Personal Injuries Board were Motor Liability claims.

Car accident law in Ireland

Car accident law refers to legal rules determining who is responsible for the personal and property damage from a road traffic collision. This area of law consists of the principles of negligence. Car accident victims must prove the same essential four elements to recover compensation. These elements are:

• Duty – Drivers must obey the road rules and reasonably operate their vehicles.
• Breach – The plaintiff usually must offer evidence that a defendant breached their duty. A breach can be shown by direct evidence such as eyewitness testimony, a traffic surveillance video or an admission of fault.
• Causation – the plaintiff must prove causation (e.g. that the defendant’s breach of duty caused the injuries to occur). This can be provided by medical testimony demonstrating injuries are consistent with the nature of the crash and that they didn’t exist beforehand.
• Harm – The plaintiff cannot bring a negligence lawsuit unless the defendant’s conduct produced the damage to the other person or vehicle.

What to do to strengthen a possible car accident claim?

• Take photographs of any visible injuries
• Take photographs of your vehicle/accident scene if possible
• If you didn’t require medical attention at the accident scene, visit the doctor afterward, as injuries may present later.
• Write down all details of the accident as soon as possible; even small details that may seem minor may assist your future case.

Statute of Limitations

You have two years from the accident date within which to issue proceedings. If you are under 18, a separate set of rules apply, and we would recommend you contact our solicitors to talk about these. To learn more about the statute of limitation for a car accident claim, click here.

Our team

If you have been involved in a car accident or suffered an injury at another person’s hands, we advise all persons to contact our injury claim solicitors at the earliest available opportunity. If you want to take legal action over a personal injury, you should consult our injury solicitors, who are members of the Law Society’s injury accreditation scheme and clinical negligence accreditation scheme. Contacted us at

Coleman Legal LLP

Solicitors
84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1
D01 YX60
DX 112002

Contact Details

Free Phone: 1800-844-104
Fax: (01) 5312727
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.colemanlegalpartners.ie
Online Enquiry Form: Apply