News & Info
Why all road accidents should be reported to Gardaí
24th April, 2026
Research shows there is significant underreporting of road traffic accidents in Ireland. This is an important step that should not be missed.
An April 2026 investigation by RTÉ Prime Time shows a discrepancy between official Garda road accident injury statistics and Irish hospital admission data.
According to the investigation, many road traffic accidents that resulted in hospital treatments, between 2020 and 2024, were never reported to the Gardaí.
This discrepancy suggests that the true scale of road traffic injuries in Ireland is being significantly underreported. While official Garda figures track reported collisions and fatalities, hospital admission figures reveal a broader picture of injuries sustained on Irish roads.
The investigation found that between 2020 and 2024, 11,241 people were hospitalised following road traffic collisions, compared with 7,465 serious injuries recorded by Gardaí.
In a statement to RTÉ’s Prime Time, the Road Safety Authority said these gaps have also been observed in other countries and can arise where crashes are not reported to police, or where injuries are not initially identified as serious.
“This difference might be explained by the police not being alerted of a crash; or by injuries not being detected or being misclassified, due to the assessment of the injuries sustained being done by a police member and not by a medic,” a spokesperson said.
At EU level, bodies such as the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) have raised concerns not just about the number of serious injuries, but about how well they are understood and recorded.
Why reporting a road traffic accident to An Garda Síochána is essential
Being involved in a road accident can be a distressing experience. In the immediate aftermath, your focus should be on your health and safety, as well as the welfare of everyone involved in the accident.
However, a critical step that should not be missed is to contact the Gardaí and report the incident. Not only is this vital for official road statistics reasons, and for any insurance or injury claims, it is also a legal obligation.
According to Irish Law, if you are involved in a motor collision, your legal obligations are set out in Section 106 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (as amended).
The Road Traffic Act requires that all road traffic accidents are reported to An Garda Síochána as soon as possible. This applies to all accidents, regardless of the severity of the collision, or whether anyone is injured.
The Traffic Matters section of the official Garda website also explains what you should do if you are involved in a road traffic accident
The data gathered allows An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority to:
- Identify accident blackspots
- Allocate resources effectively
- Develop targeted safety campaigns.
The role of Garda reports as evidence for a road traffic accident claim
If you or anyone else is injured in a road accident, a Garda report is a vital piece of evidence for a personal injury case, providing an independent, official account of how the accident happened.
If an accident is not officially reported, insurers may question whether it occurred as described.
Solicitor Paul Tracey has specialised in road traffic accident claims for over 35 years and has seen many situations where people were unaware of their legal requirement to inform Gardaí of the accident. He says this can create challenges in an injury claim for compensation.
“We regularly see situations where individuals face unnecessary challenges in pursuing a claim simply because the accident was never formally reported. Taking this step at the outset can make a significant difference to the outcome of a case. It is vital that every road traffic accident is reported to An Garda Síochána, no matter how minor it may seem at the time,” he explains.
Practical steps after a road accident
If you are involved in a road traffic accident in Ireland:
- Ensure everyone is safe and seek medical attention if needed
- Exchange contact details with other parties involved and witnesses
- Document the incident: take photographs of the scene, of insurance discs, of any injuries or damage to vehicles and identify any CCTV that may have captured the incident. Also note down what happened while the details are still fresh in your mind.
- If Gardaí do not attend the scene, report the accident to your nearest Garda station as soon as is practical.
- Contact a solicitor for legal advice.
If you have been involved in a road traffic accident and are unsure of your next steps, contact us and tell us about your case.
Sources:
As road deaths rise, the true scale of injuries remains unclear
Citizens Information – Motor vehicle collisions
RSA report: Serious injuries in Ireland using hospital and An Garda Síochána data
Disclaimer: This article has been prepared by Tracey Solicitors LLP for general guidance only and should not be regarded as a substitute for professional advice.
Paul Tracey is the Founder and Managing Partner at Tracey Solicitors LLP. Paul qualified as a solicitor in 1982, so he brings a wealth of expertise to his clients. As a Managing Partner of the firm, Paul is the driving force behind our client centric approach and is absolutely committed to making law accessible to all.