Home / Compensation Amounts in Ireland

Compensation Amounts in Ireland

The Importance of Knowing Compensation Amounts in Ireland

If you have been injured in an accident for which you were not to blame, it is important to know how compensation amounts in Ireland are calculated to ensure that you receive a fair and adequate settlement of your personal injury claim.

Many accident victims accept inappropriate settlements of injury compensation in Ireland – resulting in financial difficulties when they do not have enough money to pay for medical care or support their families.

Consequently, we have compiled this guide to explain how compensation amounts in Ireland are calculated, and some of the potential pitfalls you should look out for when making a personal injury compensation claim.

How Settlements of Injury Compensation in Ireland are Calculated

Settlements of injury compensation in Ireland comprise of four primary factors:

  • Compensation for your pain and suffering
  • Compensation for a deterioration in your quality of life
  • Compensation for psychological trauma
  • Compensation for expenses or any loss of income you have incurred

The article below explains each of these areas.

Why You Should Consult A Solicitor

While we strive to ensure all the articles on this site are factually accurate you should never solely rely on the information supplied here. Every accident and injury case is different and while reading one of our articles can provide you with general information you should always get expert advice and consult a solicitor before taking any action that may have legal consequences.

For this reason we also provide a confidential 24-hour helpline where you can talk to a highly experienced and specialised personal injury solicitor who will answer any questions you may have about your potential compensation claim.

We urge you to avail of this service which is provided by a well known and highly respected personal injury legal firm. Compensation Ireland do not charge for this and there is no obligation on your part to take your claim further or to use any particular firm of solicitors.

The Book of Quantum

Compensation amounts for pain and suffering are based on the Book of Quantum. The Book of Quantum is a publication which gives a range of financial values for specific injuries according to the extent of the injury ant their permanence.

These values can be adjusted to account for a plaintiff´s age, their gender or any pre-existing condition they may have had which was exacerbated by an accident.

Quality of Life

Compensation for a deterioration in your quality of life (or “loss of amenity”) is based on the impact an injury has had on your ability to participate in day-to-day activities which formed part of your normal routine prior to your accident. This usually involves such events as hobbies or recreational activities that you are unable to take part in while you are recovering from your injury.

Psychological Trauma

Experts agree that every physical trauma comes with some level of psychological trauma. If your solicitor believes that you have experienced a particularly high level of psychological trauma, he or she will request that you undergo an examination by a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist´s report will determine if you can claim compensation for psychological traumas such as a loss of confidence or depression.

Other Expenses & Loss Of Income

Compensation for any expenses or loss of income you have incurred has to be justified by receipts and payslips. The purpose of this element of settlements of injury compensation in Ireland is to return your financial position to what it would have been had your injury never been sustained.

Compensation amounts in Ireland in this category should also ensure that any future medical costs or loss of income is accounted for.

Not all of these four primary factors will apply in every personal injury claim, and there may be additional factors involved in settlements of injury compensation in Ireland that have to be considered depending on the circumstances of the claim. If you are in any doubt about how compensation amounts in Ireland would be calculated in your specific situation, it is recommended that you discuss this with a solicitor.

Other Issues with Compensation Amounts in Ireland

There are several issues with compensation amounts in Ireland that you need to be aware of to avoid being under-compensated for a loss, an injury, or the avoidable deterioration of an existing condition which was due to the negligence of somebody who owed you a duty of care.

The first issue concerns applications for assessment to the Injuries Board.

Despite the Injuries Board doing an excellent job in reducing the length of time it takes to resolve many personal injury claims and cutting the cost to the state of litigation, the four primary factors of compensation amounts in Ireland are not clearly explained on its application forms – online or the hard copy Form A.

The Injuries Board can only assess your claim for compensation with the information it is provided with. Consequently, if you fail to advise the Injuries Board about your loss of amenity or any psychological trauma you have suffered, it will not be able to include these factors in your compensation settlement.

There are also issues surrounding unsolicited offers of compensation from insurance companies – who will not have conducted any sort of assessment of your claim, but will have based their offer on past history of what other plaintiffs have accepted.

Offers of compensation amounts in Ireland that originate from insurance companies are often in the company´s favour.

If you inadvertently accept settlements of injury compensation in Ireland from insurance companies, and they prove to be inadequate for your needs, you cannot go back to the insurance company and ask for more.

If you are tempted to accept an unsolicited offer of compensation because short-term finances are a concern to you, speak with a solicitor who will be able to arrange interim payments of compensation until an appropriate settlement of your claim is negotiated.

Speak with a Solicitor about Compensation Amounts in Ireland

There are numerous other issues that can affect compensation amounts in Ireland, and the best advice we can offer is always to speak with a solicitor when you are intending to make a personal injury claim. A solicitor can ensure that your injuries are effectively communicated on your application for assessment to the Injuries Board and represent you in any negotiations with the negligent party´s insurance company.

If you have any questions about settlements of injury compensation in Ireland, you are invited to call our injury claim helpline.