Taking the right steps after a road traffic accident in Ireland is how you make a successful compensation claim*.

After the accident, you should ensure your safety and that of others involved, but you should also bear in mind what to do next. If you have a personal injury following a road traffic accident that was not your fault, then you may have a claim for compensation.

The other driver may try to say all is ok, but you are the one with the injury and the bills to pay, and you may be able to claim compensation.

What to do immediately after a road traffic accident?

What you do immediately after a road traffic accident can be crucial to how any compensation claim* develops over the following weeks.

There are over 1,400 serious injuries on Irish roads every year, with more than 700 in major cities like Dublin, and nearly 500 road traffic accident injuries happen between the hours of 4pm and 8pm.

Every step matters after a car crash, from looking after yourself to contacting the Gardai.

The steps to follow after a road traffic accident in Ireland:

The first step after being involved in a road traffic accident is to ensure your safety and, if necessary, seek medical attention. If you have passengers, you need to care for them, too.

If you think it is necessary, you should call for medical attention. You never know how bad an injury is, and some people suffer from shock but do not realise it at the time.

Having a medical record of your injuries at the scene can be a big help if you need to make a compensation claim*.

When you call the Gardai to the scene of an accident, you will get an experienced witness to what happened.

The Gardai will know what to do at the scene and can give a detailed account of how you were injured and the damage to your car.

If you suspect the other driver to be drink driving or drug driving, you should call the Gardai immediately.

A Garda witness statement can speed up a compensation claim*.

You should always get the details of the other road user, even if you think everything is all right. You never know what can happen after an accident and when you may need to make a claim.

Get the following from the other driver:

  • Car insurance details
  • Name, number and address
  • Car registration, make and model

Keep the details safe as your solicitor may need them.

 

Gather evidence at the accident scene, if you can, before anyone moves their car.

Evidence is the best way to win a compensation claim*, and the more evidence you have, the better it will be.

Evidence to gather at the scene of a road traffic accident:

  • Eyewitness accounts, such as those from other road users
  • Details of the other road user
  • Dash Cam coverage of the accident
  • Eyewitness video footage
  • CCTV footage from the accident
  • Photographs of any injuries
  • Photographs of the scene of the accident

Keep all the evidence safe, and make copies of any photographs and videos later.

Do not admit liability for an accident, and do not get into a row with the other driver. It is up to insurance companies, the Gardai and even the courts to decide on who was responsible for any road traffic accident injuries.

Always, after a road traffic accident, behave as politely as possible and concentrate on yourself and on gathering evidence.

O’Reilly Doherty & Company in Dublin will know how to follow up on a road traffic accident claim and turn it into a successful compensation claim*.

Steps to take in the weeks after a road traffic accident

The steps you take in the weeks after a road traffic accident can have a big influence on your success in making a compensation claim*.

Making a successful compensation claim* may take time, but if you follow all the steps, it should be easier to get the money you deserve.

You should:

Keep detailed financial records after the road traffic accident. If you can show your costs following an accident, the easier it will be to claim damages.

You should keep:

  • Medical bills when seeing doctors
  • Bills for physiotherapy and other such costs
  • Any out-of-pocket expenses associated with the accident

Make copies of financial receipts, bills, and all expenses for your claim.

Making medical appointments is a great way to build evidence for a compensation claim*. See a GP if you have not already seen one or did not go to A&E after the accident.

If your GP prescribes painkillers, then there must be a reason for it. If the hospital doctor recommends an X-ray, then go for the scan or an MRI.

Make all medical appointments you are given.

It may seem obvious, but having a good personal injury solicitor on your side can make all the difference to a successful compensation claim*.

The right personal injury solicitor will know what to do from day one. They will have a list of medical experts for you to see and will know what damages you can claim in compensation.

Detailing all your financial losses is an excellent way for the solicitor to see what damages you have suffered following the road traffic accident.

Financial losses can be:

  • Loss of income because you cannot work
  • Costs of employing a carer
  • Bills, mortgage and rent payments you need to make

Your personal injury solicitor can help you draw up a list of all your losses due to the road traffic accident.

You can never have enough evidence when making a compensation claim* following a road traffic accident.

Your solicitor will give you a list, but you should get:

  • Copies of any medical tests, scans and X-rays made after an accident
  • Accident report by the paramedic
  • A Garda accident scene report
  • A medical report from an independent doctor 
  • Financial report on the impact of the injuries on your family
  • Report from a physiotherapist on the injury
  • Report from a psychologist if you have PTSD

O’Reilly Doherty & Company can help you gather the evidence needed when making a claim.

Common mistakes when making a road traffic accident claim

A few mistakes could cost you in terms of compensation and even in making a successful claim.

Types of common mistakes when making a claim:

  • Delaying medical treatment
  • Missing legal deadlines
  • Posting on social media
  • Not having a personal injury solicitor
  • Not keeping your evidence

If you delay seeking medical treatment or do not follow up with your appointments, it looks as if you are not very badly injured. Missing legal deadlines puts the ball back in the other person’s court and can affect your claim.

You should stay off social media as it can affect how the Injuries Board look at your claim. Keeping all your evidence safe is the only way to ensure you can use it during the claims process.

O’Reilly Doherty & Company are experienced personal injury solicitors in Dublin who can make all the difference when making a successful road traffic accident claim.

Make a successful road traffic accident compensation claim* today

Make a successful road traffic accident compensation claim* today by contacting O’Reilly Doherty & Co Solicitors. We have the team in place to make your personal injury claim and get you compensation for the injuries.

A personal injury claim can be a complicated process, but with the right solicitor on your side, you can get the compensation you and your family deserve.

If your loved one suffered an injury in a car accident, you may make a compensation claim* on their behalf.

O’Reilly Doherty & Co. Solicitors in Dublin will help make a road traffic accident compensation claim*.