When a car runs into the back of yours, the driver behind is usually held responsible because they should have left room to stop. This page explains how a rear-end collision claim works in Ireland and the evidence that matters.
A rear-end collision claim is a personal injury claim against the driver who ran into the back of your vehicle.
The Rules of the Road tell drivers to stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front in dry weather, and twice that in the wet. A driver who cannot stop in time is therefore usually found at fault.
These crashes tend to happen in queuing traffic, at roundabouts and on the approach to traffic lights. The usual causes are a driver looking at a phone, following too closely or misjudging how fast the car ahead was slowing.
When you are hit from behind, the seat pushes your body forward while your head lags, then snaps forward. That movement strains the soft tissue of the neck and upper back, which is why whiplash injury claims so often follow a rear-end crash.
Symptoms can start hours or a day later, so see your GP even if you felt fine at the scene.
Sometimes. The other driver's insurer may say you braked sharply for no reason, pulled out in front of them or had faulty brake lights. If you were partly to blame, compensation is reduced in proportion under section 34 of the Civil Liability Act 1961.
Most claims then go to the Injuries Resolution Board. Read how the Injuries Resolution Board works.
The losses after the first item are "special damages", claimed in addition to general damages. Keep a receipt for each one.
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.
Usually, but not always. A following driver should leave enough room to stop, so most rear-end crashes are their fault. Blame can be shared if, for example, you reversed into them or pulled out sharply in front of them.
If you were partly at fault, your compensation is reduced in proportion under section 34 of the Civil Liability Act 1961.
Yes. Neck and back pain after a rear-end crash often starts later the same day or the next morning. See your GP as soon as symptoms appear, because the Injuries Resolution Board application needs a medical report from the doctor who treated you.
Two years from the date of the crash, or from the date you knew about the injury if that is later, under the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991.
Time stops running while the claim is with the Injuries Resolution Board, and for up to 6 months after it issues an authorisation. Separately, you must write to the driver at fault within one month of the crash.
In a chain of collisions, more than one driver may share responsibility, and each insurer will look at the order of the impacts. Photographs of every vehicle, dashcam footage and witness accounts help show which car hit which.
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. Note the name or number of the Garda you spoke to.
Most claims go to the Injuries Resolution Board first. If both sides accept its assessment, the claim ends there. If either side rejects it, the Board issues an authorisation and the claim can go to court, but most claims settle without a hearing.
We do not give figures, because each claim depends on the injury and the evidence. General damages are set by the Personal Injuries Guidelines according to the type and severity of the injury. Losses such as earnings and medical costs are claimed as well.
The claim is then made to the MIBI. See our pages on claims against uninsured drivers and hit and run claims.
Road traffic claims are run by Paul Kearney, who founded the firm and is regulated by the Law Society of Ireland, with trainee solicitor John Deeney. We work from offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Letterkenny.
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
