Most road, workplace and public liability claims in Ireland must go to the Injuries Resolution Board before they can go to court. Here is how the process works, step by step.
The Injuries Resolution Board is the State body that deals with most personal injury claims in Ireland before they can go to court.
It was set up in 2004 as the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), and was renamed under the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act 2022.
The Board can resolve a claim in two ways: by mediation, if both sides agree, or by assessing how much compensation is due. Assessments follow the Personal Injuries Guidelines, the same guidelines the courts use.
The Board doesn't deal with medical negligence claims, which go straight to the courts.
You don't have to have one, and the Board deals directly with people who apply on their own.
A solicitor can check that the medical report covers all of your injuries, that your losses are properly documented, and that the letter of claim and time limits are met.
We also advise you on whether an assessment is fair before you accept or reject it, which matters because rejecting one can affect your legal costs later.
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.
Yes. The two-year time limit stops running once the Board has your application, and starts again six months after the Board issues an authorisation.
That comes from section 50 of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003. It's still best to apply well within the two years.
The Board's fee is €45 if you apply online and €90 by post. You also need a medical report from the doctor who treated you, who may charge for it.
The other side has 90 days to reply. After that, an assessment usually takes several months, depending on your injuries and on whether more medical evidence is needed.
The Board issues an authorisation and you can take the claim to court.
But if the other side accepted the assessment and the court later awards you no more than the Board's figure, you can't recover your legal costs and could be ordered to pay some of the other side's, under section 51A of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003.
That is why we advise carefully before you reject one.
Not for most road, workplace and public liability claims. The court will only hear them once the Board has issued an authorisation. Medical negligence claims are different: they don't go through the Board.
It depends on the claim. Mediation lets both sides agree a settlement with a neutral mediator, and it is voluntary. An assessment gives you the Board's figure, which you can then accept or reject. We can talk through which suits your claim.
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 for more.
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.
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Friday 9am – 5pm
