If you have been injured in a road traffic accident, a work related accident or an accident in a public place you may wish to bring a personal injuries claim seeking compensation against the wrongdoer. This may be the driver of another vehicle, your employer or a local authority.
Liam Moloney and our personal injury solicitors at Moloney and Co. Solicitors have briefly set out advice for any person who is injured in any accident as to how to protect your interests at the start of your case.
Road Traffic Accidents
It is extremely important to take pictures of the scene, this includes the vehicles to show the extent of the damage and their location. These photos are important because they may need to be reviewed by a court later in your case. You should also make sure that insurance details of all parties are taken along with registration of each vehicle. This information must be stored carefully. If a Garda was present at the scene of the accident, be sure to take down the Garda’s name and the address of his or her station where they are based.
Work Accidents
If you suffer an injury as a result of a work accident you should immediately fill out an accident report form. Also be sure that you keep a copy of the report. If there is CCTV footage where the accident happened, you should request that your employer retains the footage as you and your solicitor may wish to review the footage in due course. If you are aware of previous complaints that have been made about unsafe work conditions, ensure that these complaints can be recorded in writing. If you have suffered a loss of earnings due to your accident, keep copies of your payslips and any payments received from the Department of Social Protection as these will be required to prove your loss of earnings claim.
It is also important that you do nott discuss the circumstances of your accident with any of your coworkers as your case is confidential. The only person your case should be discussed with is your Solicitor who can liaise with your employer if any significant issues arise regarding your claim.
Accidents in Public Places
If you are injured in an accident on a public road or footpath you should take pictures of the scene as soon as possible and report the accident to the relevant Local Authority. If there were any witnesses present be sure to obtain their contact details as they may be required to complete a witness statement. If your accident occurred in a supermarket or shopping centre you should ensure that a report is filed and that you take down the name of the person whom the accident was reported to. If CCTV footage is available request that the footage be retained by the owner/occupier of the shopping centre and not destroyed as it may be a feature in proving fault in your case.
All personal injury claims* apart from claims arising from medical treatment, have to be registered with the injuriesboard.ie. This must be done within two years of the date of your accident. If it is not done your claim will be statute barred. Personal injury claims*, apart from road traffic assessment cases, are not straight forward. It is vital to act quickly and get legal advice from an experienced professional who knows all the pitfalls in dealing with these cases.
Contact Moloney and Co. Solicitors
If you’ve been injured in a road traffic accident, due to medical negligence, or in a work accident you should speak with a personal injury claims* solicitor as soon as possible. The team at Moloney and Co. Solicitors are experienced in handling all types of personal injury claims* and helping victims of accidents recover compensation for their injuries. Contact our firm today in Dublin and Naas to speak with a personal injury solicitor regarding a personal injury claim*.
