A crash at low speed, with little damage to the car, can still injure the people inside. This page explains how these claims are assessed and what evidence matters when the insurer questions the injury.
Yes. Irish law sets no minimum speed or level of vehicle damage for a personal injury claim. Under the Personal Injuries Guidelines, general damages depend on the injury and how long it lasts, not on the repair bill for the car.
Low-impact crashes include nudges in queuing traffic, bumps in car parks and being rolled into at a junction.
A bumper can take a knock with little visible mark while the people inside still feel a sudden jolt to the neck and back. Read more about whiplash injury claims.
Insurers often argue that a minor impact could not have caused an injury. The answer is medical evidence: a record of when symptoms started, what treatment you had and how long recovery took.
Be accurate about your symptoms. Under section 26 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, a court must dismiss a claim where the person knowingly gives false or misleading evidence, unless dismissal would be unjust.
The photographs and repair invoice show where and how the cars made contact, and the medical records show what that contact did to you.
Write to the driver at fault within one month, as section 8 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 requires. Then read how the Injuries Resolution Board works.
Everything after the first item is claimed as special damages, so keep the receipts. A repair invoice is useful twice: it supports the vehicle claim and it records the point of impact.
Contact us through our enquiry form, phone, or email. We’ll review your situation, answer your questions, and explain what to expect next. There’s no upfront fee to begin your claim.
Your case will be carefully reviewed by our legal team.
We assess the strength of your claim, advise on the documentation needed, and guide you through key steps such as attending an independent medical examination and preparing the information required for the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB).
Once you decide to move forward, we take care of everything. This includes gathering evidence, contacting the other party or their insurer, submitting your claim to the IRB, managing settlement discussions, and handling any court proceedings if needed.
Paul Kearney founded the practice and leads its personal injury work in Ireland. He is regulated by the Law Society of Ireland. Read Paul's profile.
We prepare your application to the Injuries Resolution Board, including the medical evidence, and advise you on any assessment before you decide whether to accept it.
You can meet us at any of our four offices, or deal with us by phone, email or video, wherever you live in Ireland.
There are no upfront fees. Before you go ahead, we set out in writing how legal costs work, as section 150 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 requires. No Win No Fee explained.
No. The claim is about the injury, not the vehicle. The Personal Injuries Guidelines assess general damages by the type and severity of the injury and how long recovery takes.
It may. The strongest answer is prompt medical evidence: a GP record made soon after the crash, the treatment you had and how your symptoms changed over time.
Yes. Neck and back symptoms often start hours or a day after a minor crash. See your GP when they begin, because the Injuries Resolution Board application needs a medical report from the doctor who treated you.
If anyone was injured and no Garda attended, the crash must be reported at a Garda station as soon as possible under section 106 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. The same applies to property damage where details were not exchanged at the scene.
You do not have to. A settlement is usually final, so it makes sense to know how your recovery is going and to take advice before agreeing to anything.
General damages are set by the Personal Injuries Guidelines, which grade minor neck injuries by how long it takes to make a substantial recovery.
Losses such as earnings and treatment costs are claimed as well. We do not give figures before the medical evidence is in.
Your compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of the blame under section 34 of the Civil Liability Act 1961.
Two years from the date of the crash, or from the date you knew about the injury if later, under the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991. You must also write to the driver at fault within one month.
No. There are no upfront fees. Before you go ahead, we give you clear written terms explaining how legal costs work, as section 150 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 requires. Read No Win No Fee explained.
Regulated by the Law Society of Ireland
Kearney Law handles only personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
We act for clients across Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Letterkenny. See all the areas we cover.
Contact us to talk to a solicitor about your claim, or request a case review.
Email: [email protected]
Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday 8am – 8pm
Friday 9am – 5pm
