Case Study

Case summary:

Incident:

Natasha was travelling as a passenger on a coach bus that she had boarded from the airport. While the coach was driving, a car suddenly and without warning, crossed in front of the bus, causing the bus driver to slam on the brakes.

Natasha was thrown from her seat and landed hard on her head and legs. She also banged her right ear and nose off the bus floor. Fellow passengers helped Natasha to her feet.

Natasha’s nose was bleeding, and she noticed blood on both of her lower legs. The bus drove Natasha to the nearest General hospital, where she was assessed at the Emergency Department.

Following x-rays of her facial bones and spine, Natasha was diagnosed with a fractured nose. She had plugs placed in her nose to stop the bleeding and was fitted with a nasal splint. The cuts on her lower legs were steri-stripped and bandaged. Natasha was discharged from hospital and advised to return in three days for review.

In the days after the accident, Natasha experienced constant pain throughout her body.  When she returned to the hospital for review, she was prescribed painkillers and antibiotics for her wounds, which had become infected. She returned to the hospital on two further occasions to have her wounds dressed.

Because of her nasal splint and leg dressings, Natasha was unable to shower by herself, go for her daily walks or attend the gym for several weeks.

As a result of this accident, Natasha suffered not only serious physical injuries but also ongoing pain and reduced mobility.

Case progression:

The Injuries Resolution Board assessed the injury at €10,554. Solicitor Elaine Hickey reviewed the Injuries Resolution Board assessment and felt that it did not properly compensate Natasha for her injuries. Elaine instead instigated Court proceedings, and the case was brought to a successful conclusion. 

Case settlement:

The case was settled on the 14^th of May 2025 for the sum of €20,000. This was a great result for our client, we are proud of all the work put in by Elaine Hickey and her team to achieve this outcome.

 *Note: Client name changed for GDPR reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I make a car accident claim?

   Following a car crash or other road traffic accident, your first port of call is to check to see if you, any passengers and anybody else involved in the accident need medical attention and to call an ambulance, where necessary, to ensure that medical attention is gotten as soon as possible.

   It is important that, if you have suffered a personal injury that you book an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible after the road traffic accident, even if you are involved in a minor road traffic accident, regardless of how minor you think the injuries are, in some cases these minor injuries can develop into a more serious threat to your health. In worst case scenarios, fatal road accidents can occur.

2. What information will my solicitor need to make a claim?

   In order for your solicitor to proceed with a personal injury claim for you they will need the following information:

   • Details of the person who caused the accident.
   • Names, addresses and contact information of any witnesses to the accident.
   • Where available, photographs of the location of the accident, paying particular attention to the item or area where the accident happened.
   • Name of Gardaí/police and station where the accident was reported – names of any Gardaí who attended the scene of the accident (where applicable).
   • Medical records detailing any injuries/treatment following the accident.
   • Details of any costs incurred following the accident (keep your receipts).
   • Details of any loss of earnings and details of any future loss of earnings if you are to be out of work for a long period of time.
   • Cost of medical treatment – details of future medical treatment needed.

3. How to calculate the value of my claim?

   The Injuries Board Book of Quantum provides us with general guidelines as to how much compensation may be awarded in a personal injury claim and is used by the Injuries Board when they are assessing a personal injury claim. This book was compiled by examining sample cases from over 51,000 closed personal injury cases from 2013 and 2014 and is based on actual court figures. It shows us what personal injury compensation amounts were awarded in the past and help give an estimate as to how much compensation could be awarded based on a person’s specific injuries.