Personal Injury Solicitors

Personal injury (*) solicitors can help shoulder the burden of dealing with effects of an accident and provide invaluable advice.

Accident victims who have sustained injuries in accidents for which they were not at fault and wish to discover more about their eligibilityto claim against the negligent party should seek the support and advice of personal injury solicitors. Solicitors who specialise in personal injury claims focus as much on both the physical effects of the injury and the impact the injury has had on the victim’s life. For example, if a husband and father can no longer work as a result of his injury, he would most likely be able to receive compensation for his loss of income, lost pension and lost opportunities.

The Benefits of Engaging a Personal Injuries Solicitor

It is worth noting that no two personal injury claims are exactly the same — even when the injuries sustained are identical; therefore, personal injury solicitors will not simply consider the physical injuries you have sustained, but how they may prevent you from participating in social and leisure activities you enjoyed prior to the accident. They can also consider any emotional trauma you have experienced as a result of a physical injury — not only at the time of the accident, but during your rehabilitation and recovery – and even after, when the scars of your physical injury have long faded.

Your personal injuries solicitor will also take the secondary victims of an injury into account; the husband who must leave his job to care for his injured wife, the parent who must take time off work to collect children from school, or the daughter who has to reorganise her life to assist an elderly parent who has lost their partner’s services.

As a solicitor in this field will be more familiar with the “personal” element of such a case, he or she would take as much time needed to help their client prepare a comprehensive application for assessment to the Injuries Board Ireland, to negotiate on their client’s behalf with the negligent party’s insurers, or to prepare a case for litigation in court. A personal injuries can take care of the formalities while you are recovering from your injury and keep you fully informed throughout the process.

Information a Solicitor will Need to Know

Accident victims are often uncertain about having the correct answers to any questions personal injury solicitors may ask them. There is no need for hesitance — all a solicitor wants to hear is the truth. The following list contains some questions that you would need to contemplate and discuss with a personal injuries solicitor:

  • Do you have visible/invisible injuries?
  • At the scene of the accident, what physical pain did you immediately experience?
  • What physical pain did you experience during the recovery process?
  • What emotions do you feel when you think about your accident?
  • Are there any physical activities that you can no longer participate in?
  • Have you stopped/reduced partaking in any sporting/skilful/intellectual activities?
  • Can you continue to play with your children/grandchildren?
  • Can you continue to drive a bicycle, motorbike or car?
  • Do common household tasks now cause you pain?
  • Have you had to change long term plans because of your physical injuries?

It is important to note medical questions may be asked by an expert doctor introduced by your personal injuries solicitor during the preparation of any legal action. It is important that you honestly and adequately describe the pain you experienced when you answer. Your doctor’s questions are likely to include how the impact of your injuries has affected your physical and emotional wellbeing.

How Much Will it Cost to Engage a Solicitor?

Most personal injury solicitors in Ireland offer an initial consultation to establish whether you have a claim against a negligent party before you commit to pursuing the case. You should ask the cost of this initial consultation and the solicitor´s services might cost thereafter. If you engage a solicitor, legal fees are charged based on the hours worked on a case and a solicitor should provide an estimate of the costs to you before taking on the case.

Depending on the circumstances of your accident and injury, it may be possible to be reimbursed for any legal expenses you incur when pursuing your claim as part of your personal injury compensation settlement. Solicitors in Ireland and not allowed to work on a no-win on-fee basis and are not allowed to take a percentage of the award as part of their fee structure.

Personal Injury Solicitors: Summary

Victims of accidents who have been injured in an incident that they were not responsible for are recommended to consult with personal injury solicitors at the first moment possible — following medical treatment. A personal injuries solicitor is an expert in this field of law and will be familiar with the entire compensation process. He or she will not only take the effects of the victim’s physical injuries into account, but also any emotional trauma experienced by the victim and how the injury has affected their quality of life. In the initial consultation that most solicitors offer, he or she would assess your case, determine its validity and offer advice about the options available to you.

(* In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement).