How Compensation Amounts are Calculated in Ireland

Compensation amounts in Ireland can be complicated to calculate, as there are many aspects of an injury which need to be factored into a claim for personal injury compensation. If you have been injured in an accident which was not entirely your fault, and want to determine the compensation amounts in Ireland which are applicable in your case, read our guide to compensation amounts in Ireland to find out more or give our compensation claims helpline a call for an accurate assessment of your full entitlement to compensation amounts in Ireland.

Quick Calculation of Compensation Amounts in Ireland

Many accident victims want to get a quick calculation of compensation amounts in Ireland, as this is often the deciding factor when deciding to make a claim for personal injury compensation. If the compensation amounts in Ireland are deemed not to be high enough, many people decide not to take legal action to recover compensation.

Unfortunately a quick calculation of compensation amounts in Ireland is not easy to make, as it is first necessary to complete a thorough analysis of the injuries; including factors such as age of the victim, gender, how the injuries have affected their quality of life and the implications to future health. A quick calculation of compensation amounts is therefore likely to be inaccurate.

To arrive at an accurate figure for the compensation amounts in Ireland that are likely to be awarded, it is necessary to allow a personal injury solicitor to properly assess a claim. You can then be sure that the maximum compensation amounts are calculated, and you will then be able to make an informed decision on whether it will be worth your while to make a claim for personal injury compensation.

Compensation Amounts in Ireland and the Injuries Board Ireland

Virtually all personal injury compensation claims in Ireland have to go through the Injuries Board Ireland to be assessed. The Injuries Board Ireland was formed to allow accident victims to take civil action to claim compensation for personal injuries without having to use a solicitor or make claims for compensation through an overloaded court system.

Unfortunately, while in theory the system works, in practice even the Injuries Board Ireland will not always arrive at the maximum compensation amounts in Ireland which can be claimed. This is because the Injuries Board Ireland will not necessarily factor in the age and sex of the victim, nor will they accurately calculate the expenses which have been incurred or take loss of earnings into account. The Injuries Board Ireland commonly refers to the Book of Quantum – a publication which lists common injuries and allocates a financial value to them – and this allows inaccuracies to occur when calculating compensation amounts in Ireland. As such, although it is not necessary to use a solicitor when claiming personal injury compensation in Ireland, over 90% of accident victims chose to do so.

The Book of Quantum and Compensation Amounts in Ireland

The Book of Quantum is a reference book which contains values for compensation amounts in Ireland to make the calculation of compensation a more straightforward process. Unfortunately, while the compensation amounts which are contained in the Book of Quantum broadly reflect the seriousness of injuries and how compensation amounts in Ireland should be awarded, the book cannot be relied upon to ascertain how much compensation you may be entitled to receive.

The reason for this is that the Book of Quantum was compiled over 6 years ago, and does not factor in inflation over the intervening years. Neither does it include the latest Irish court precedents, nor factor in the age, sex and general state of health of an accident victim. As an example, if an 80 year old man has a serious accident and suffers a permanent injury, he should not be awarded the same personal injury compensation amounts in Ireland as a healthy and active 20 year old man in the same situation. The disability would affect the younger man far more over the course of his lifetime than a man four times his age. There would be considerable loss of earnings over a longer lifespan and considerably higher medical care and home help costs.

Since the Book of Quantum does not factor into an assessment compensation amounts in Ireland for loss os amenity and psychological injury, any Injuries Board assessment is likely to be low. Compensation amounts in Ireland should therefore be calculated by an experienced personal injury compensation solicitor, who would be able to accurately calculate the true personal injury compensation amounts in Ireland which apply to any individual’s situation. With this legal expertise, an accident victim would be able to claim a level of compensation which truly reflects all aspects of an injury.

Do Insurance Companies Give a Fair Assessment of Compensation Amounts in Ireland?

It is not unusual for the insurance company of a negligent party to make an early offer of compensation to an accident victim. This may occur before the victim has even had a full assessment of their injuries by a medical specialist, or before they have contacted the Injuries Board Ireland or a personal injury compensation solicitor. Insurance companies will calculate compensation amounts in Ireland which they find acceptable and are happy to pay. You can be 100 per cent sure that an insurance company will not make an offer that they are not comfortable with paying, nor that the compensation amounts in Ireland that they offer will be the maximum possible amount that an accident victim can claim.

The compensation amounts in Ireland which are offered as an early settlement are done so purely to limit the liabilities of the insurance company, reduce costs and increase company profits. Compensation amounts in Ireland offered by insurance companies may seem fair initially, and the early payment of compensation may be welcomed by an accident victim, but there is massive potential for claims to be under-settled. If you want an accurate calculation of your full entitlement to compensation amounts in Ireland, you should speak to an experienced personal injury compensation solicitor for advice.

When you call our compensation claims helpline, our solicitors will assess any insurance company offer, and will give you impartial advice as to whether the compensation amounts in Ireland which are applicable are worthwhile taking legal action to recover. If the offer of settlement is fair, we will tell you so.

How Contributory Negligence Affects Compensation Amounts in Ireland

There is often a difference between the compensation amounts in Ireland which are claimed, and the compensation amounts in Ireland which are actually awarded. One of the main reasons for this is due to the contributory negligence of the claimant. If you were involved in an accident which was not primarily your fault, you should be eligible to claim personal injury compensation to provide recompense for your injuries. However, if you actually played a role in the accident, or your actions have caused you to increase the severity of your injuries, any defence would seek to make you liable for part of any compensation award.

An example of contributory negligence would be failing to wear a seatbelt when involved in an accident which resulted in injuries of a severity greater than if you had buckled up. Some patients discharge themselves early from hospital, only to have to be readmitted at a later date when their injuries deteriorate as a result. Failing to seek medical advice quickly – such as with whiplash injuries – can cause the injuries to deteriorate in the intervening time. All of these illustrations of personal contributory negligence will not have been the primary cause of an injury, but they will be factored into any compensation amounts in Ireland which are awarded. Compensation would then be reduced by the appropriate degree.

How Compensation Amounts in Ireland Can Be Increased with Court Litigation

The vast majority of personal injury compensation claims in Ireland are settled out of court, without having to resort to litigation through the Irish courts. Taking any case before a judge adds an element of uncertainty to a claim. A judge could increase the compensation amounts in Ireland which are awarded; however they could equally rule in favour of the respondent, or decrease the compensation amounts in Ireland which are being claimed by an accident victim.

If the chances are good that a more appropriate settlement can be reached through litigation in Irish courts, your solicitor will advise of your options and the risks of court litigation. When negotiations with insurers fail, or when the defence refuses to accept the compensation amounts in Ireland which care being claimed, court litigation may be necessary to get the appropriate compensation.

How A Solicitor Can Increase Compensation Amounts in Ireland

Using a solicitor to calculate the appropriate compensation amounts in Ireland which are applicable will help you to ensure that your full entitlement to personal injury compensation is claimed. The experience of a solicitor cannot be underestimated when negotiating a settlement from a third party insurer, as a personal injury solicitor will be well aware of the tactics that are frequently used to limit an insurance companies liabilities and to reduce the compensation amounts in Ireland which are paid. A solicitor should also be able to significantly increase your chances of making a successful claim.

Free Legal Advice Without Obligation

In order to make the claims process as easy as possible, and to help you claim your full entitlement to personal injury compensation amounts in Ireland, we offer a free legal advice claims helpline for you to call. By calling our helpline you will be able to speak directly to an experienced personal injury compensation solicitor, and you will be advised about your eligibility to make a claim for compensation, your chances of success, and whether it is actually worth your while to make a claim for compensation.

We will also be able to calculate the compensation amounts in Ireland which are applicable, although in the first instance it is usually only possible to provide an estimate of how much compensation you are likely to be awarded. To get an accurate figure of the compensation amounts in Ireland which are applicable, we will need to perform a thorough investigation of your case.

Call our compensation claims helpline today for free legal advice without pressure or obligation, and take the first step towards getting your full entitlement to compensation amounts in Ireland.

If it is not convenient for you to call straightaway, please take advantage of our call back service by completing the contact form below. One of our experienced personal injury compensation solicitors will call you back at the requested time.