What should you do following a Road Traffic Accident in Dublin?

Recently the statistics on road traffic accidents have been moving in the right direction. The number of minor road traffic accidents and fatal collisions have been dropping these last couple of years. However, this doesn’t mean that the risk of a road traffic accident has gone away.

Far from it. The per capita accident rates on Dublin roads remains concerningly high for both local authorities and the average road user.

Even minor accidents can be traumatic and what’s worse, the financial burden of medical expenses and legal repairs can cause undue stress long after the accident has occurred. Therefore it’s important to seek legal recourse if you’ve been involved in a traffic accident that wasn’t your fault.

We understand that the thought of pursuing legal action following a road traffic accident may be intimidating and therefore we’ve put together a step by step guide of what a road user should do from the minute that they’re involved in an accident up until the point where they receive the appropriate amount of compensation for their injuries.

What You Should Do Immediately after a Road Traffic Accident

It’s completely understandable to be in shock following a road traffic accident. So it’s important to take a few minutes to compose yourself. Shock can also mask the pain of injuries, so even if you’re not in pain this doesn’t mean you are injury-free.

With this in mind the first step following a road traffic accident is always:

-        Seek medical attention for any injuries.

This step is the most important. If you have been hurt or if another party has been injured, get in contact with medical professionals as soon as possible.

-        Get as Much Detail as Possible

If you’re confident that any sustained injuries aren’t serious we recommend gathering as much information as possible. It’s essential that you at least get the registration numbers of the vehicle(s) involved in the road traffic accident. You should also get the contact details of the individuals involved along with their insurance information. If an Gardaí or paramedics do attend the scene, make sure to get their information as well. 

-        Take Pictures

Use your phone to get pictures of any inures you sustained and any damage to property or your vehicle.

 What should you do after you’ve left the road traffic accident scene?

After leaving the road traffic accident scene you should report the accident to the nearest Gardai station. Even if an Gardai didn’t attend the scene of the accident, you should still get an Gardai to take a statement from you.

After you speak to a member of an Gardai, we highly recommend getting in contact with a Traffic Accident Solicitor in Dublin like Finghín O’Driscoll Solicitors.

The Traffic Accident Solicitor will submit your case to the PIAB

Once you’ve hired a Traffic Accident Solicitor in Dublin, they will take you through every aspect of the case, and compile an in-depth report outlining the details of the accident. This report will then be submitted to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB).

The PIAB calculate what they consider to be an appropriate amount of compensation based on the unique details of the accident.

The PIAB will eventually revert with what they consider a fair compensation amount. You should speak to your solicitor about this amount.

If you’re not happy with the offer you can reject it and the case will be brought before a judge. Please be aware there are certainly no guarantees that a judge will award more than the PIAB and the rejection of the PIAB offer will significantly extend the case and you could end up with a lower compensation amount.

Traffic Accident Solicitor Dublin

The above is a broad stroked overview of what can happen following a road traffic accident. The circumstances surrounding every accident is different. Therefore we urge you to contact our Traffic Accident Solicitor Dublin team if you’ve been involved in an accident. We can offer expert advice that’s tailored around the specifics of the accident you were involved in.