Personal Injuries
If you have suffered injuries or had an accident that was someone else's fault, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss and damage incurred as a result.
O'Hanrahan & Company have over 40 years experience in civil litigation and provide a tailored service to each individual client to obtain the best possible results. Our practise can assist and advise you in situations such as:
• Road Traffic Accidents
• Work Place Accidents
• Trip & Fall Cases
• Public Liability
As a Statute of Limitations applies in most Personal Injuries cases, it is important to stop the clock and initiate action as early as possible so as to investigate a claim and give the relevant parties adequate notice of proceedings. This time limit is set out under the Civil Liability & Court Act 2004.
The process begins by making a formal application to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), whose job is to assess your injuries and to quantify the total losses sustained, as well as loss of earnings, special damages (medical expenses, travel costs) etc. You will have the choice to accept or decline any assessment made by the PIAB. The respondent will also be asked to accept or decline the PIAB assessment. If both parties agree to accept the PIAB assessment, an order to pay is issued which has the same effect as a regular court order.
If either the applicant or the respondent declines the assessment, then the PIAB will issue your solicitors an authorisation, which will allow you to proceed to court with your case.
Once a PIAB authorisation is issued, the next step is for your solicitor to brief a barrister (counsel) about your case and have them draft a Personal Injuries Summons. The barrister will also be able to provide more specialised advice about how to deal with your case. The Personal Injuries Summons is then served on the prospective defendant(s) and from this point, they have a set amount of time to file an Appearance in the court office. The length of time for a case to proceed to hearing is never the same and depends on the complexity of the case and the amount of work required. Medico-legal reports from medical experts may also be needed during the course of litigation.
There are many different aspects to Personal Injuries litigation and it is never possible to guarantee any particular outcome for a client. O'Hanrahan & Company can provide you with sound legal advice and guide you through the entire process.
If you or a relative have suffered as a result of any accident that wasn't your fault, contact us today for an initial consultation. We will be able to advise you on your case and explain the best course of action for your particular circumstance.
*In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.