Road Traffic Injury — Legal Assessment — Guide

A road traffic injury legal assessment in Ireland gives you an independent solicitor’s view before you commit to anything after being injured in a car, motorbike or other road traffic accident. A solicitor would review the circumstances, liability, your injuries and your documents. You receive a written assessment of the legal merits of your case, the next steps including the Injuries Resolution Board process, the documents you need and an indicative value range under the Personal Injuries Guidelines. A service of this kind is a solicitor’s assessment of your position and the Injuries Resolution Board route. If you want to proceed further, with an IRB application, negotiation or court proceedings, a solicitor would confirm whether she can take the matter on, and that work is a separate engagement with its own terms and costs agreed in writing before it starts.

What’s included

• Written assessment of the legal merits of your case
• Next steps including the Injuries Resolution Board process
• Documents you will need
• Indicative value range under the Personal Injuries Guidelines
• Self-complete template with guidance notes — you fill it in yourself
• Documents tailored to Irish law and your circumstances, delivered by email
• A written summary of the key points and anything you need to do afterwards

Who this is for

• Drivers injured in a collision
• Passengers injured in a road accident
• Motorcyclists
• People who want independent legal advice after an injury

How it works

1. Find a solicitor through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory and send them the basic details and any existing documents or correspondence.
2. Complete a short questionnaire about your circumstances.
3. A solicitor would then review the accident and prepares a written assessment.
4. The completed work is delivered to you by email, with plain-English notes on what to do next.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a road traffic injury legal assessment cost?

Fees for work of this kind are typically set on application: a solicitor would typically confirm the fee once the matter has been reviewed and before any work begins. Any third-party or State fees are listed separately where they apply. You request an assessment, and costs are confirmed in writing before any work begins.

What if the other driver was uninsured?

Claims involving uninsured or untraced drivers may be dealt with through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland.

Is there a time limit?

Generally two years from the date of the accident or date of knowledge.

For more on personal injury claims, see our Personal Injury in Ireland guide.

If you would like to be told when solicitor services are available again on this site, you can join our no-fee waiting list. To instruct a solicitor now, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.