Coleman Legal LLP Logo

Latest News

Newsletters

Defective Blocks Redress Coleman legal LLP

Defective Blocks

Defective Blocks newsletter and latest updates.

Read More

Mother and Baby Home Coleman legal LLP

Mother & Baby Homes

Mother and Baby Homes redress newsletter and latest updates.

Read More

CAMHS Misdiagnosis Coleman legal LLP

CAMHS Review

CAMHS newsletter and latest updates.

Read More

Social Media Moderators Court Case

All employers have a duty of care to employees to provide a safe place of work, a safe system of work and to prevent harm. Recently, a large group of Moderators have come together to explore their rights and the obligations that others have to them. A Court action on behalf of Moderators is proposed to be taken in Dublin Ireland, which is the European headquarters for many companies who utilise the services of Moderators.

Table of Contents

    Our personal injury team

    We have wide-ranging experience in dealing with medical, work, motor, and accidents in Public Places. If you have been injured and you wish to claim for your injury and loss or would like to know more about what is involved, please get in touch with our team today 1800-844-104 or complete our online enquiry form. Please be assured that your query will be dealt with in total confidence.

    If you are injured in an accident caused by somebody else, you may be entitled to bring a claim for compensation. It is important for you to seek legal advice as soon as you are able so that you have the best chance of success. This is true whether you have been injured at work, in a public place, or as a result of a road accident.

    Sometimes an injury caused by somebody else can stop you from working and have a long-term effect on your health. The law is there to help and protect you when you have been injured. Our personal injury team provides a nationwide service with professional advice and service to you. We have many years of experience in successfully dealing with thousands of claims on our client’s behalf.

    What is a Personal Injury?

    A personal injury refers to any physical or psychological harm caused to an individual as a result of the negligence or wrongful act of another person or entity. This can include injuries resulting from accidents, medical malpractice, or even intentional acts of violence.

    Examples of personal injuries include

    • A broken bone sustained in a car accident caused by another driver’s reckless behavior
    • A back injury caused by a fall at work due to an employer’s failure to maintain safe working conditions
    • A traumatic brain injury caused by medical negligence during a surgical procedure
    • Psychological harm such as PTSD as a result of an assault or abuse
    • A burn injury caused by a defective product

    In general, in order to make a personal injury claim, it is necessary to prove that the injury was caused by the negligence or wrongful act of another person or entity and the injury resulted in some sort of loss or damage.

    Personal injury claim types

    Our team of experienced Personal Injury Claim Solicitors at Coleman Legal continuously educates themselves on all aspects of personal injury claims.

    Serious injury claim

    Road traffic accident claim

    Factory accident claim

    Construction accident claim

    Other accidents in the workplace claim

    Accidents in public places claim

    • Accidents in a Supermarket
    • Car Park Accidents
    • Claims made against a council or local authority for accidents that occurred on a footpath, in a park, or in another improperly managed public area.
    • Slips, trips, and falls in public places
    • Accidents in a Hotel
    • Accidents in a Restaurant
    • Food Poisoning from a Restaurant
    • Accident on a Petrol Station Forecourt
    • Accidents Caused by Spillages
    • Crèche Accident Claim

    The claim process

    1. Seek assistance from our personal injury solicitor

    Our team of experienced personal injury solicitors is available to guide clients through the process of making a personal injury claim. Utilising a solicitor can simplify the paperwork and filing required for this process.

    2. Apply to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board

    The next step is to make an application to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). If your personal injury claim concerns anything other than medical negligence, some assaults, and some cases of entirely psychological injury, then your claim can be brought through PIAB. Examples of claims that PIAB covers include:

    3. Provide necessary information and documents

    Your solicitor will gather evidence, medical reports, and other expert reports, and submit them to PIAB for assessment.

    4. Obtain consent for claim assessment

    Once the application is made, PIAB will notify the defendant(s) and they must indicate within 90 days if they consent to the assessment of the claim. If consent is given, PIAB will proceed with the assessment. If denied, PIAB will grant authorisation for court proceedings.

    5. Claim assessment

    The assessment process usually takes about 9 months. If both parties accept PIAB’s assessment, an order to pay will be issued and must be discharged by the defendant(s) within 10 days. If rejected, an authorisation for court proceedings will be granted.

    Compensation amount

    How much compensation you receive for a personal injury claim is dictated by two legally binding documents known as:

    The “Book of Quantum” and

    The recently published Personal Injuries Guidelines by the Judicial Council of Ireland.

    The Book of Quantum dictates how much compensation you are owed if your Authorisation was received from PIAB prior to the 21st of April 2021. In all other cases, compensation in respect of general damages is assessed with the aid of the Judicial council’s Personal Injuries Guidelines.

    The Book of Quantum sets out general guidelines as to the amounts that may be awarded or assessed in Personal Injury Claims. The guidelines are divided into sections depending on what category of injury was suffered, e.g., head injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, and spinal fractures, upper limb injuries, lower limb injuries, and body and internal organs. The Book of Quantum sets out four steps to assess what compensation is appropriate for the suffered injury. These steps are as follows:

    1. Identify the category of injury
    2. Assess the severity of the injury (through medical reports and records)
    3. Research the value range
    4. Consider the effect of multiple injuries

    The Personal Injuries Guidelines were adopted by The Judicial Council on the 6th of March 2021. Similar to the Book of Quantum, this legal document sets out guidelines for assessing compensation in respect of general damages. The general principles for this assessment centre on three criteria:

    1. Awards of damages must be fair and reasonable to both the claimant and the defendant(s)
    2. Awards must be proportionate to the injuries sustained
    3. Awards must be compared on a scale of injuries that are both of a lesser and greater magnitude

    One of the most substantial differences brought about by this update is that the average level of damages awarded has been reduced. The new guidelines have, however, provided more detail and more explanation for claimants, which is overall a welcomed change to the process of making a personal injury claim.

    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 discuss these. Click here to learn more about the statute of limitation for a personal injury claim.

    Why choose Coleman Legal LLP?

    At Coleman Legal, we understand our client’s circumstances. We understand that because you are reading this part of our website, you have likely been involved in an accident and perhaps have been injured. At times like this, you need the support of an experienced firm that can assist you with the practical issues that now confront you as a result of the fault of another.

    For example, you may need to understand your Social Welfare entitlements should you be out of work.  Also, it’s important for you to know that your legal advisers will obtain all of the important Reports that may be required to ensure that you get the best outcome in your case.

    We provide a national service and can meet you locally to ensure that you have a voice and access to the best advice and resources for your particular case. Our service is about you, the client, and we speak plain English with no unnecessary legal jargon. Our teams have dealt with thousands of claims over many years and pride ourselves on our respectful and concerned approach to all of our clients.

    Our team

    From the moment of your first contact with Coleman Legal LLP to the completion of your case, our team listen, care and act with empathy, whatever the extent of your injury. Our teams have the understanding and expertise to ensure that your injury is professionally and adequately dealt with to ensure the best outcome for you in the circumstances of your case.

    Our Team will manage your case and keep you fully informed of progress on a regular basis. Our commitment and service to you will include;

    1. Working with you to fully understand what happened,
    2. Collect all medical notes and obtain all medical reports on your behalf.
    3. Submit your claim to the Injuries Board and advise you on the outcome.
    4. Process your case and deal with all queries.
    5. Advise and support you throughout the whole process.

    If you want to take legal action over a personal injury, consult our personal injury claim solicitors, who are members of the Law Society’s injury accreditation.

    Coleman Legal LLP

    Solicitors
    84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1
    D01 YX60

    Contact Details

    Free Phone: 1800-844-104
    Fax: 01-53-12727
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.colemanlegalpartners.ie
    Online Enquiry Form: Apply

    Request a Callback

    Clodagh Magennis

    Clodagh Magennis

    Head of Client Services

    P: 1800-844-104
    E: [email protected]

    ”At Coleman Legal, excellence in customer care is paramount. We aim to meet both prospective and existing client’s needs in a professional, engaging, and friendly manner with a clear objective to give quality legal advice and reach a positive outcome.”

    View Profile

    FAQs

    I'm still working for my employer. Does this affect my claim?

    Irish Law safeguards the rights of employees to make a claim for compensation against your current employer where they have failed in their duty of care towards you. It is illegal for your employer to fire you, deny you promotion, or otherwise discriminate against you because you are making a claim against them.

    I am not based in Ireland, and my employer is not an Irish company. How can I claim?

    You may take your case through the Irish Courts if you are, or were:

    • an employee of, OR a contractor for, a multi-national company with headquarters in Ireland, including the European HQ of an American company,  AND
    • working as a content moderator in an EU country.
    Do I have the same rights and safeguards being a third-party employee?

    An employer is legally required to provide yo with a safe place of work and a safe system of work. Historically agency workers were treated in an entirely different manner to those workers who were hired directly into the workforce. Whilst the employment agency is the employer, the company is also respomsoble for breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005.

    Your right to being protected under Health and Safety Regulations are the responsibility of both the company company where you are doing the temporary work and the agency.

    I work as a contractor, employed by an agency, not by the company whose content I was moderating. Can I still make a claim?

    Whilst the employment agency is the employer, the company which controls your work and working environment  is also responsible for breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005.

    Your rights under Health and Safety Regulations are the responsibility of both the companies, and Coleman Legal will make claims on your behalf against each of them.

    My employer warned me in advance that I might have to review disturbing content, and that it might lead to PTSD. Can I still make a claim?

    No. The larger the numbers joining the case the better for all. As in all cases, it is up to the Solicitors to guide the case through the courts to ensure that all of the participants are fully and properly represented.

    In the meantime, it has been agreed that all of the other cases within the group will effectively be on hold. This is a significant achievement because, once a summons has been issued in the High Court and served on each of the Defendants, no other steps in the litigation will occur pending the outcome of the lead cases.

    Following much negotiation with the other parties, it has also been agreed that the normal costly and time consuming rules for physical service can be dispensed with and that summonses can be served electronically. The Defendants have also agreed that they will not come on record or take any active steps, which eliminates the costs risk for the Plaintiffs such as yourself, should the lead cases be unsuccessful.

    If the lead cases go to trial, the Decision of the Lead cases will be binding on those in the group. Similarly, if the lead cases are settled, any Settlement or Redress Scheme will apply to the members of the case.

    How do I know if I have suffered a psychological injury?

    Each case is unique and the effect of psychological injuries such as PTSD will vary with each individual. Many content moderators’ symptoms are not immediately recognised, and they may only become evident over a period of time.

    It is important that psychological illness/injury is correctly diagnosed by a qualified professional. Your GP will be able to give you a preliminary diagnosis, and arrange for evaluation by a specialist to help you begin on your journey to recovery.

    What About My NDA?

    Many big technology companies in Ireland use non-disclosure agreements to intimidate staff and discourage them from vindicating their rights. Ireland has very strong whistleblower protections and employee rights, and enforcing these NDAs would be very difficult under Irish law, particularly as your right to access justice through the courts takes precedence over any claimed right to secrecy.

    If I don't have any resources to fund my case, how can I take a claim?

    The team at Coleman Legal LLP is fully supportive in every way of your case. We successfully represent many hundreds of clients, moderators, and others, all of whom have been able to bring a case without the worry and stress of financing it. We can help you.

    We are aware that a similar case in the US was recently settled with a positive outcome for the content moderators. If your case is successful in court or settled out of court, you will then have to pay reasonable legal fees.

    It is important to note that no solicitor’s fee may be calculated as a percentage of any award or settlement you receive. Also, if a litigant loses their case they may be liable for the other side’s legal defence costs, including medical fees or other expert reports, etc. We will advise you in advance should this become a likelihood.

    What obligations does my employer have regarding psychological injuries?

    The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, recognises PTSD as a result of exposure to graphic content.

    Where it is reasonably foreseeable that an employee is working under conditions  that could cause mental health issues, your employer owes you a duty to take reasonable steps to address these issues. Once a duty of care is established, if you as an employee have suffered a psychological injury as a result of your employer’s negligence, you can claim compensation for the harm suffered.

    Will the current Covid-19 pandemic prevent me from taking my claim or cause delays to my claim?

    Covid-19 has affected everybody. We are fully operational during Covid-19 crisis, and the courts are still operating. We continue to receive instructions from moderators throughout Europe. Our services are being conducted over the phone and with video calling to ensure the safety of our clients while providing minimal disruption to our services.

    I have left my job, and didn't realise at the time that the content I reviewed had caused psychological injuries. Can I take a case against my employer now?

    After you become aware of the harm you have suffered, you must make a claim for compensation within two years. It is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible, to ensure your claim doesn’t pass this statute of limitations.