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All compensation amounts for personal injuries claims payouts in Ireland are assessed under the Judicial Council Personal Injuries Guidelines (‘the Guidelines’), which were introduced in 2021.¹

While no two claims are the same, compensation claim amounts are decided with the following aspects in mind:

• Pain/suffering and loss of quality of life/enjoyment of life
• Loss of earnings as a result of the injury
• Medical bills as a result of the injury
• Loss of future income caused by the injury
• Cost of future medical care

 Typical personal injury compensation ranges

The Judicial Council Personal Injury Guidelines group injuries into categories with compensation ranges.

Below are some examples of the ranges for common injuries:

Injury type	Typical guideline range*
Minor neck injury	€500 to €12,000
Moderate neck injury	€12,000 to €23,000
Minor back injury	€500 to €20,000
Moderate back injury	€20,000 to €55,000
Minor shoulder injury	€500 to €12,000
Serious wrist injury	€40,000 to €60,000
Severe knee injury	€35,000 to €110,000
Moderate ankle injury	€20,000 to €45,000

Source: 2021 Judicial Council Personal Injuries Guidelines

*These figures are simplified summaries only. Actual awards depend on the individual circumstances of the claim, medical evidence and documented financial losses.

Because of this, there is no simple injury claim calculator in Ireland, but our compensation claims estimator outlines the full Judicial Council Personal Injury Guidelines for injuries and this can be used a starting point.  

How are compensation claims assessed using the Guidelines?

Most personal injury claims (with the exception of medical negligence cases) in Ireland are assessed by the Injuries Board.

When your application is sent into the Injuries Board, they will assess your case and provide you with a compensation figure based on the severity of your injury, expected outcome and timeframe for recovery, as well as the expenses incurred as a result of the accident.

The Injuries Board will request medical reports for your case, and they use the information from the reports alongside the Guidelines, and any expenses owed, to arrive at a compensation amount.

However, because this evaluation is based off a strict set of guidelines and processes, nuances of a condition may be missed, and the Injuries Board assessment may not fully reflect the full extent of your injuries and their impact on your life.

This is why it is invaluable to work with a specialist personal injury solicitor, who knows all the details of your particular situation. They will be able to assess whether the compensation amount that the Injuries Board recommend is appropriate or not, and to take the case further if required.

If your solicitor believes that the Injuries Board evaluation does not properly compensate you for your injuries, they will instigate Court proceedings to achieve a more appropriate settlement figure.

Case study examples

Here are two examples of personal injury cases, where our solicitors were able to secure a higher amount than the original Injuries Board assessment.

Example 1 – Cyclist injured on an oil spill left by a tractor

The cyclist was training for a cycling competition on a national road when suddenly and without warning, the front wheel of his bicycle lost traction on an oil spill. He lost control of his bicycle and was thrown onto the ground, landing on the left side of his body.

The oil spill had come from a tractor parked further up the road, which had a trail of oil coming out of it.

The cyclist was brought to hospital by ambulance where he was diagnosed with multiple soft tissue injuries and skin abrasions. An existing surgical he had in his collarbone was also bent out of shape.

The accident had a significant impact on the cyclist’s lifestyle. He needed multiple physiotherapy sessions and has not yet returned to his previous level of cycling. He continues to experience discomfort in his left shoulder and right thumb during everyday activities.

The Injuries Resolution Board assessed this cycling accident injury at €11,429.99.

However, solicitor Elaine Hickey felt that amount this did not properly compensate the cyclist for the injuries incurred. Elaine instead instigated Court proceedings, and the case was later settled for the sum of €22,365.49.

Example 2 – Worker injured through negligence of employer

Dave was working for an audio-visual (AV) integration company on a refurbishment project and experience an accident at work. It was his first day working at the site. He was in a communications room which was very untidy with lots of loose cables on the floor. While he was mounting cables, he took a step back and tripped on a loose cable, causing his foot to enter an opening on a raised floor tile with a sharp edge.

Dave sustained a deep cut to his left shin. An ambulance was called which took him to the emergency department at the nearest hospital. After being examined, the cut on his leg was stitched, and he went home.

However, Dave continued to experience shooting pain in his leg and as a result, he was unable to work for two weeks. He attended his GP three times for advice on pain relief and needed to take painkillers for three months following the accident. The cut on his leg left a large and noticeable scar.

This accident had a significant impact on Dave’s lifestyle. He continued to experience persistent pain and intermittent numbness around the scar. He had pain in his leg when driving and when lifting equipment at work.

The Injuries Board assessed the injury at €5,025. Solicitor Ruth Foy reviewed the Injuries Board assessment and felt that it did not properly compensate Dave for his injuries. Ruth instead instigated Court proceedings, and the case was brought to a successful conclusion, settling for the sum of €15,000.

 

Frequently asked questions:

What if I have multiple injuries?

If you have suffered more than one injury in an accident, the Injuries Board will value the most severe injury first, then adjust that value to incorporate any other less serious injuries to arrive at a final amount of compensation to be awarded to you.

How can two people with the same injury receive different compensation amounts?

This is another common question we receive. For example, two people may both suffer a whiplash injury, yet receive very different compensation amounts.

That happens because the Injuries Board assess the severity and impact of the of the injury, not simply the diagnosis. They also assess other factors, based on medical evidence, including:

• recovery time
• ongoing pain
• ability to work
• effect on hobbies and family life
• need for surgery
• ongoing symptoms
• psychological consequences

A minor soft tissue injury resolving within a few weeks or months is assessed very differently from one that continues to have an ongoing impact on someone’s life.

Does every personal injury go through the Injuries Board?

Most personal injury claims in Ireland are assessed by the Injuries Board, with the exception of medical negligence claims.

Once the Injuries Board assesses the claim, if either party (defendant or plaintiff) does not accept the outcome of the assessment, the plaintiff can choose to pursue the claim through the courts. This is where having an experienced personal injury solicitor on your side can be invaluable.

However, the Injuries Board will sometimes decline to assess a claim if it is too complex. In these cases, the claim can move directly to court proceedings.

Is there a minimum payout for a personal injury claim in Ireland?

No. There is no statutory minimum compensation amount. Awards depend on the severity of the injury, the available evidence and the Judicial Council Personal Injuries Guidelines.

Does having a pre-existing condition reduce my compensation?

Not necessarily.

If an accident aggravates an existing condition, compensation may still be available for the additional injury caused. Medical evidence will usually be required to distinguish between the pre-existing condition and the effects of the accident itself.

If the accident was partly my fault, can I still make a claim?

If you were partly responsible for an accident, you may still be able to make a claim. The compensation amount awarded may be reduced if there is contributory negligence.

How much extra can I claim for loss of earnings and out-of-pocket expenses?

There is no fixed amount you can claim due to an injury resulting in out of pocket expenses.

Special damages depend on the actual financial losses that can be demonstrated through evidence such as payslips, invoices, receipts, medical bills and other supporting documentation. In some cases, these losses can represent a significant proportion of the total value of a claim.

Tell us about your case today

Every personal injury claim is different. The Guideline ranges are broad and the value of a claim will depend on the medical evidence, the impact of the injury on your life and documented financial losses.

If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, we can assess your circumstances and explain next steps. Contact us and tell us about your case today.

 

 

1 A proposed increase to these guidelines was drafted in December 2024, and submitted to the Minister for Justice in February 2025, however these amendments have not yet come into effect.