Case Study

Case summary

Incident

One afternoon, Antonio went to a laser hair clinic for removal of his beard and moustache hair. He previously had laser hair removal treatments done, with no adverse reactions. However, following this appointment, he noticed pain and swelling around his chin and above his lip.

By the next morning, blisters had formed on Antonio’s face. He re-attended the clinic and was given a cream to soothe the burns from the laser treatment.

Three weeks later, Antonio attended his GP as the scars from the laser burns were still obvious. His doctor recommended another topical treatment.

Antonio was very self-conscious of the scars on his face. He felt embarrassed while at work and experienced very low moods. It took three months for his scars to fade and be less noticeable. However, he still has faint scars on the affected areas which doctors have advised are likely to be permanent.

Every beauty clinic bears the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of their clients. Unfortunately, on the day of the accident, the practitioner failed to exercise reasonable care when carrying out the laser treatment. This resulted in burns to Antonio’s face.

Case progression

The Injuries Resolution Board assessed the injury at €5,707. Solicitor Elaine Hickey reviewed the Injuries Resolution Board assessment and felt that it did not properly compensate Antonio for the injuries incurred. Elaine instead instigated Court proceedings, and the case was brought to a successful conclusion.

Case settlement

The case was settled on the 9^th of April 2025 for the sum of €13,000. This was a great result for our client. We are proud of all the work put in by Elaine and her team to achieve this outcome.

 *Note: Client name changed for GDPR reasons.

Information updated March 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does no win no fee mean?

   Solicitors fees are based on a number of factors:

   • Complexity and urgency of your case
   • Paperwork involved -the amount of paperwork, medical records etc., that need to be obtained and examined
   • The amount of time spent by the personal injury solicitor and their legal assistant on the matter
   • Skill, knowledge and expertise
   • Whether costs can be recovered from the other side will play a role in whether you will have to pay legal fees or whether the other side will have to pay them for you.

   Speaking with a solicitor is the best first step you can take if you are concerned about legal fees, they will explain to you exactly how it all works and put your mind at ease.

   You may find some solicitors operate on a no win no fee basis which means that if your personal injury claim is not successful then there is no charge to you. It is important to note that while this is a common practice in the industry the Law Society of Ireland regulate how a solicitor’s firm can advertise their services, one of these regulations is that a solicitor’s firm cannot advertise ‘no win no fee’ services and any solicitor found advertising these serves will be found to be in breach of the regulations. Keep this in mind when choosing your solicitor to represent you.

2. What information will I need for my solicitor 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.
   • 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. Will I have to go to court?

   Every case is different and each case comes to a resolution differently. In the majority of personal injury cases, the person making the claim will not step foot into a courtroom.

   It is possible that the person at fault will seek to settle outside of court and your case will be settled in a settlement meeting attended by you, your solicitor and barrister to negotiate your settlement.

   Ultimately, it is entirely up to you whether to accept the settlement offered. If you do not accept then it will move to a court hearing where a judge will decide how much your settlement will be.