Personal Injury Compensation Amounts in Ireland (2026): What Your Injury Is Worth
In short: injury compensation in Ireland is worked out from the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021, not the withdrawn Book of Quantum. General damages for pain and suffering run from a few hundred euro for a minor injury that heals quickly to around EUR 550,000 for the most catastrophic injuries. The Injuries Resolution Board reported a median award of EUR 13,300 in the first half of 2025. Your own figure depends on the injury, how long recovery takes, and the financial losses you can prove. Every case turns on its own facts.
What is new
2021 Guidelines still apply. The proposed 16.7% rise is not in force.
Who can claim
Anyone injured in Ireland through another party's fault, including by medical negligence.
Time limit
Usually 2 years from the accident or your date of knowledge.
Before you start
Gather medical records and proof of financial loss early. They set the figure.
Quick answer: compensation has two parts. General damages follow the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021 and depend on the injury and recovery time. Special damages cover proven financial loss such as lost earnings and medical costs. The Injuries Resolution Board median award was EUR 13,300 in the first half of 2025, with general damages making up most of a typical award. Sources: Judicial Council and the Injuries Resolution Board.
Contents
Quick answers
What is personal injury compensation in Ireland?
Personal injury compensation in Ireland is the money paid to someone injured through another party's fault. It has two parts. General damages compensate for the injury itself, meaning pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life. Special damages compensate for financial loss you can prove, such as lost earnings, medical bills, and travel costs.
General damages are set by reference to the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021, published by the Judicial Council. The Guidelines group injuries by body part and grade each from minor to severe, with a band of general damages for each grade. Courts and the Injuries Resolution Board apply the same Guidelines, so the starting point for valuation is the same whether your claim settles early or goes to court. For the legal detail behind these bands, see our page on the categories of damages in Irish law.
How much is your injury worth? Compensation by body part
The table below shows the general damages range for each main body part under the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021. The low figure is for a minor injury with full recovery. The high figure is for a permanent, serious injury. These are general damages only. Special damages for financial loss are added on top, and every case turns on its own facts. For the full bracket detail on any injury, follow the link in the last column.
| Injury | General damages range (minor to most severe) | Read the detail |
|---|---|---|
| Neck injury (including whiplash) | EUR 500 to EUR 300,000 | Neck injury compensation |
| Back injury | EUR 500 to EUR 300,000 | Back injury compensation |
| Shoulder injury | EUR 500 to EUR 150,000 | Shoulder injury compensation |
| Knee injury | EUR 500 to EUR 110,000 | Knee injury compensation |
| Ankle and foot injury | EUR 500 to EUR 100,000 | Ankle and foot injury compensation |
| Wrist and hand injury | EUR 500 to EUR 80,000 | Wrist and hand injury compensation |
| Finger and thumb injury | EUR 500 to EUR 67,500 | Finger and thumb injury compensation |
| Hip and pelvis injury | EUR 500 to EUR 165,000 | Hip and pelvis injury compensation |
| Facial injury | EUR 500 to EUR 200,000 | Facial injury compensation |
| Scarring | EUR 500 to EUR 200,000 | Scarring compensation |
| Repetitive strain injury (RSI) | EUR 500 to EUR 35,000 | RSI compensation |
| Psychological injury, including PTSD | EUR 500 to EUR 170,000 | Psychological injury claims |
High figures reflect permanent, serious injury and, for some body parts, catastrophic outcomes. Most claims fall well below the top of the range. The figures are general damages under the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021 and exclude special damages.
Next step: open the page for your injury above for the exact severity brackets, or read on to see how the figure is built.
Does the type of accident change the figure?
The Guidelines band depends on the injury, not on how it happened. The same neck injury is valued the same way whether it came from a car, a fall in a shop, or a workplace. What differs by accident type is the mix of injuries and the financial losses, which is why the Injuries Resolution Board records different medians for each category. In the first half of 2025 the median award was EUR 12,552 for motor claims, EUR 12,677 for public liability claims, and EUR 20,250 for employer liability claims. Workplace awards run higher mainly because the injuries tend to be more serious and the lost-earnings element is larger, not because the Guidelines treat workers differently.
Neck and back injuries still account for most road traffic awards, while public liability awards more often involve ankle and shoulder injuries from slips, trips, and falls. Psychiatric injury has grown across all categories, rising from 5% of Injuries Resolution Board awards in 2021 to 14% in the first half of 2025. If your injury was caused by clinical care rather than an accident, valuation follows the same Guidelines, but the claim runs as medical negligence and needs independent expert evidence on the standard of care.
These figures apply only in the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland, England, and Wales use different systems and currency, so awards there are not a guide to an Irish claim. An independent review for the Department of Enterprise found that Irish awards for minor soft-tissue injuries were still several times higher than the equivalent in England and Wales, which is one reason the Guidelines are kept under review. In our experience, claimants who have read figures from a UK website often arrive with the wrong expectation, in both directions.
Find the general damages band for your injury
Choose an injury and how serious it is to see the general damages range the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021 indicate. This is an indicative range, not a prediction. Special damages for proven financial loss are added on top, and every case turns on its own facts.
Indicative general damages ranges under the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021. Not a prediction and not legal advice. Source: Judicial Council.
Want a realistic figure for your own injury?
The bands above are a starting point. To understand how they apply to your specific circumstances, you can arrange a consultation with a solicitor. Call 01 903 6408 or arrange a callback.
How injury compensation is calculated
Three things set the general damages figure: the body part injured, how severe the injury is, and how long recovery takes. The Personal Injuries Guidelines grade most injuries as minor, moderate, or severe, and recovery time is the main divider within the minor band.
Take a neck injury as an example. Under Chapter 7A of the Guidelines, a minor neck injury that substantially recovers within six months sits at the bottom of the scale, while one that takes one to two years to recover sits higher in the minor band. A moderate neck injury that causes longer-term symptoms moves into a higher band again, and a severe injury involving fractures or permanent disability can reach the serious and most severe bands. The same logic applies across the body, which is why the neck injury page and the other injury pages set out the exact brackets.
Severity is judged on medical evidence, not on how the injury felt on the day. The Injuries Resolution Board reported that 76% of injuries it assessed in the first half of 2025 were minor, 20% moderate, and 4% severe or serious. That mix is the main reason the median award sits where it does.
Why it matters: strong, specific medical evidence on recovery and lasting effects is what places your injury in the right band. A vague report can leave a genuine injury under-valued.
In our experience handling injury claims, the single most common reason a genuine injury is undervalued is a medical report that records the diagnosis but says little about its effect on work and daily life. The Guidelines reward evidence of functional impact, so a report that sets out what the person can no longer do tends to support a figure higher in the band than a bare diagnosis.
How to estimate what your injury claim is worth
You can form a rough estimate in five steps. This is a guide to the method, not a substitute for advice on your own case.
- Identify the injury and its severity. Use the medical evidence to decide whether it is minor, moderate, or severe, and how long recovery takes or is likely to take.
- Find the Guidelines band. Match the injury and severity to the bracket in the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021, using the body-part figures above or the page for your injury.
- Add your financial losses. Total your special damages: lost earnings, medical and treatment costs, travel, and future care where relevant.
- Apply the multiple-injury method if needed. If you have more than one injury, value the most significant one, add an uplift, then sense-check the total for proportionality.5
- Have it checked. Compare your estimate against current awards and recent cases. Valuation is fact-sensitive, so a solicitor can tell you where your case realistically sits.
Why it matters: the band is only the starting point. The estimate is only as good as the medical evidence and the record of financial loss behind it.
General damages vs the actual award: the number most people miss
The biggest source of confusion is the gap between the Guidelines band and the cheque. The band is the general damages figure for the injury. The actual award usually adds special damages for financial loss. People read a high band figure and expect it, or read the minor band and assume that is all a claim is worth. Neither is right.
The latest Injuries Resolution Board data makes the point clearly. In the first half of 2025 the median general damages award was EUR 12,000, while the median special damages award was only EUR 837. So for a typical claim, general damages are most of the award, and special damages add a few hundred to a couple of thousand euro. The gap widens sharply only in serious cases, where lost earnings and future care push special damages much higher. Employer liability claims, which often involve longer absences from work, carried average special damages of EUR 5,261.
The figure most people miss. In the first half of 2025 the Injuries Resolution Board recorded a median total award of EUR 13,300, made up of a median EUR 12,000 in general damages plus a smaller special damages element. The headline band is the starting point. Proven financial loss is what changes the total. Source: Injuries Resolution Board, first half of 2025.
Next step: see how the two parts fit together on our page about general and special damages.
What special damages add to your award
Special damages are the part of a claim that reimburses money the injury has cost you. They are proven with receipts, payslips, and reports, not estimated from a band. The main heads are lost earnings to date, future loss of earnings where the injury affects your capacity to work, medical and treatment costs, travel to appointments, and the cost of help at home or future care in serious cases.
For most claims this part is modest. In the first half of 2025 the median special damages award recorded by the Injuries Resolution Board was EUR 837. It tends to be higher in employer liability claims, where time off work is often longer, and lower in public liability claims. The figure rises sharply in serious cases, where future loss of earnings and care can outweigh the general damages. Source: Injuries Resolution Board, first half of 2025.
Two illustrative examples. These are simplified to show how the parts combine. They are not a prediction for any real claim, and every case turns on its own facts.
Example 1, minor neck injury. An injury that recovers within a year sits in the minor band for general damages, with perhaps a few hundred euro of physiotherapy and travel as special damages. The general damages figure drives the total.
Example 2, serious shoulder injury. An injury that stops a tradesperson working for several months falls in a higher band for general damages, with substantial special damages for lost earnings on top. Here the special damages can rival or exceed the general damages.
Why it matters: the band sets the injury figure, but proven financial loss is what separates two awards in the same band. Keeping records from the first week protects this part of the claim.
Where most injury awards actually fall
The band ranges run high, but most awards sit at the lower end. The Injuries Resolution Board figures for the first half of 2025 show the spread. Nearly 60% of awards were under EUR 15,000, and only about 7% reached EUR 50,000 or more. This is the practical reality behind the headline maximums.
Irish injury compensation, by the numbers (first half of 2025)
How multiple injuries are valued
Many accidents cause more than one injury. The Guidelines do not allow each injury to be valued separately and the figures simply added together, because that would over-compensate for overlapping pain and recovery. Instead, the court or assessor identifies the most significant injury, values it within its band, then applies an uplift to reflect the additional injuries.
Recent case law has tightened how that works. In Zaganczyk v John Pettit Wexford [2023] IECA 223 the Court of Appeal said the total award must be measured against the bands for more serious single injuries as a proportionality check, and reduced an award that failed that test from EUR 90,000 to EUR 60,000. In McHugh v Ferol [2023] IEHC 132 the High Court accepted that an uplift can, in an exceptional case, exceed the value of the dominant injury, but only where that is fair. The courts have stressed that every award must stay proportionate to the figure reserved for the most catastrophic cases, which the Guidelines now set at about EUR 550,000.
The 2025 High Court decision in Somers v The Commissioner of An Garda Siochana applied this method to a member of An Garda Siochana who suffered both physical injury and post-traumatic stress. The court treated the psychological injury as dominant, valued it, then discounted the lesser physical injuries for overlap. The same decision confirmed that the proposed inflation uplift to the Guidelines cannot be applied until it becomes law.
Why it matters: in a multiple-injury claim, how the dominant injury is chosen and how the uplift is argued can change the award materially. This is one area where careful presentation of the medical evidence is decisive.
A worked example. Suppose someone in a rear-end collision suffers a moderate neck injury and a less serious wrist injury. The assessor values the neck injury as dominant, say within its moderate band, then adds a discounted amount for the wrist rather than its full standalone value, because the two recoveries overlap in time. The combined figure is then checked against the band for a single more serious injury. If the total looks out of step with that band, it is reduced. This is the proportionality check the Court of Appeal applied in Zaganczyk, and the discounting approach the High Court used in Somers.
Compensation for psychological injury
Psychological injury is now one of the larger categories of claim. The Injuries Resolution Board reported that psychiatric damage was the most significant injury in 14% of its awards in the first half of 2025, up from 5% in 2021. Irish law compensates a recognised psychiatric condition such as post-traumatic stress disorder, an adjustment disorder, anxiety, or depression. Ordinary upset, grief, or distress does not meet the threshold.
The Personal Injuries Guidelines value psychiatric damage and PTSD separately, each graded from minor to severe. General damages for severe psychiatric damage run from about EUR 80,000 to EUR 170,000, while PTSD-specific brackets run from about EUR 500 to EUR 120,000, depending on severity and prognosis. A psychological injury can be claimed even without a physical injury, and the five-part test in Kelly v Hennessy [1995] governs claims for nervous shock. For the brackets in detail, see our guide to psychological injury claims.
Why it matters: a psychiatric diagnosis from a consultant carries far more weight than a counsellor's letter. The exact diagnosis decides which bracket applies, so specialist evidence is central to the value.
Is the Book of Quantum still used? Did awards rise in 2025?
The Book of Quantum is no longer used. It was withdrawn in April 2021 and replaced by the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021.1 The Supreme Court confirmed the Guidelines are binding in Delaney v Personal Injuries Assessment Board [2024] IESC 10.3 Many websites, and even some solicitor pages, still quote Book of Quantum figures such as EUR 14,400 for minor whiplash. Those figures are out of date and should not be relied on. If you have read a figure for whiplash specifically, see our current whiplash claims guide.
The Guidelines figures did not rise in 2025. In January 2025 the Judicial Council voted to approve a draft increase of about 16.7% to reflect inflation since 2021. That increase has not been enacted by the Oireachtas, so it does not apply. The High Court confirmed this in Somers in May 2025, refusing to apply the proposed uplift.4 The 2021 figures remain in force. Anyone valuing a claim today should use the 2021 bands.
Watch out for stale figures. If a page quotes a single round number for an injury and cites the Book of Quantum, it predates April 2021. The current bands are in the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021. Source: Judicial Council.
What can change your compensation figure
Two injuries in the same Guidelines band can settle for different amounts. The factors below are what move a figure within and between bands. None of this is a promise about any individual claim.
- Recovery time and lasting effects. The longer the symptoms last and the more they limit daily life and work, the higher within the band the injury sits.
- Financial loss you can prove. Lost earnings, future loss of earnings, medical and treatment costs, and care needs are recovered as special damages on top of the general damages figure.
- How the injury was caused. The cause does not change the Guidelines band, but it affects the evidence and the route. A claim arising from medical negligence requires expert evidence that the standard of care fell short, which is a different exercise from a road traffic or workplace claim.
- Pre-existing conditions. If an accident worsens a prior condition, the law compensates the difference the accident made. Clear before-and-after medical records matter here.
- Date of knowledge. For injuries that develop gradually, such as some repetitive strain injuries, the two-year time limit can run from when you first knew the injury was connected to the cause, not from a single accident date. This is set out in the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991.7
Why it matters: the band sets the range. Evidence decides where in the range you land, and how much special damages add. Getting the evidence right early is the single biggest practical lever on the figure.
What does not change the general damages figure. Some things people expect to matter do not affect the Guidelines band: how expensive the vehicle or property was, how upset you are with the other side, or whether the other party was prosecuted. General damages track the injury and its effects, not fault or anger. Financial losses are recovered separately as special damages.
The Injuries Resolution Board and how awards are assessed
Most personal injury claims in Ireland must first go to the Injuries Resolution Board, formerly the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, unless they settle directly. Medical negligence claims are an exception: they are exempt from the Board and proceed directly to court. The Board assesses general and special damages using the same Personal Injuries Guidelines the courts use. If both sides accept the assessment, the Board issues an order to pay. If either side rejects it, the claimant can pursue the claim through the courts.
The Board assessed 4,342 claims in the first half of 2025. Its data showed a median award of EUR 13,300 and an average of EUR 19,343, with nearly 60% of awards under EUR 15,000 and about 7% at EUR 50,000 or more.2 For how the process works step by step, including time limits and the role of a solicitor, see our guide to the personal injury claims process.
Next step: read the Personal Injuries Guidelines explained for the legal framework behind the bands.
What is changing: proposed reforms
Two changes are proposed but not yet in force. First, the draft 16.7% uplift to the Guidelines, approved by the Judicial Council in early 2025, was laid before the Oireachtas by the Minister for Justice in September 2025, but the Government did not bring a resolution seeking its approval, so it has not taken effect (Injuries Resolution Board). The Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2026 proposes further changes to how the Guidelines are revised, including a move from a three-year to a five-year review cycle. Until any increase is approved by the Oireachtas, the 2021 figures stand. Second, a General Scheme of a Civil Reform Bill has proposed raising the monetary limits of the District and Circuit Courts, which would change which court hears claims of a given value. At present, personal injury claims worth up to EUR 60,000 are dealt with in the Circuit Court and higher-value claims in the High Court. These proposals are not law and may change before any are enacted. We update this page when the position changes.
Last reviewed June 2026. We review this page when new Injuries Resolution Board data is published and when any change to the Guidelines or court rules takes effect.
Key terms in plain English
- General damages
- Compensation for the injury itself, meaning pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life. Set by reference to the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021.
- Special damages
- Compensation for proven financial loss, such as lost earnings, medical costs, and travel. Added on top of general damages.
- Most Significant injury
- In a multiple-injury claim, the dominant injury that is valued first, before an uplift is added for the others.
- Uplift
- The increase added to the dominant injury to reflect additional injuries, subject to a proportionality check.
- Date of knowledge
- The date you first knew, or should have known, that an injury was linked to its cause. It can start the two-year time limit for injuries that develop gradually.
References
- Judicial Council, Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021 (adopted 6 March 2021, in force 24 April 2021). judicialcouncil.ie. Accessed June 2026.
- Injuries Resolution Board, Personal Injuries Award Values, first half of 2025 (published April 2026). injuries.ie. Accessed June 2026.
- Delaney v Personal Injuries Assessment Board [2024] IESC 10, Supreme Court of Ireland (2024). Judgments: courts.ie.
- Somers v The Commissioner of An Garda Siochana, High Court, 12 May 2025 (O'Higgins J): the proposed 16.7% uplift cannot be applied until enacted. Judgments: courts.ie.
- Zaganczyk v John Pettit Wexford [2023] IECA 223 and McHugh v Ferol [2023] IEHC 132, on valuing multiple injuries (2023). Judgments: courts.ie.
- Citizens Information, Injuries Resolution Board and personal injury claims (updated 2026). citizensinformation.ie.
- Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991, on the date of knowledge. irishstatutebook.ie.
- Injuries Resolution Board, rules and legislation: current status of the Personal Injuries Guidelines and the draft amendments (2026). injuries.ie.
- Revenue, personal injury compensation payments and the tax treatment of awards (updated November 2025). revenue.ie.
Common questions
What is the average personal injury award in Ireland?
The Injuries Resolution Board reported a median award of EUR 13,300 and an average of EUR 19,343 in the first half of 2025. These figures cover all injury types and include financial losses, so they are not a guide to any one injury. Your figure depends on the injury, recovery time, and proven losses.
Why it matters: an average across all claims can mislead. The Guidelines band for your specific injury is the better starting point.
Next step: IRB award data
Is the Book of Quantum still used in Ireland?
No. The Book of Quantum was withdrawn in April 2021 and replaced by the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021. The Supreme Court confirmed the Guidelines are binding in Delaney v PIAB in 2024. Figures quoted from the Book of Quantum are out of date.
Next step: Personal Injuries Guidelines explained
Did personal injury compensation increase in 2025?
No. The Judicial Council approved a draft increase of about 16.7% in January 2025, but it has not been enacted by the Oireachtas, so it does not apply. The High Court confirmed this in Somers in May 2025. The 2021 figures remain in force.
What is the difference between general and special damages?
General damages compensate for the injury itself, meaning pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life, and follow the Personal Injuries Guidelines. Special damages compensate for financial loss you can prove, such as lost earnings and medical costs. The total award combines both.
Next step: categories of damages
How is compensation worked out if I have more than one injury?
The most significant injury is identified and valued first, then an uplift is added for the other injuries. The total is checked for proportionality against the bands for more serious single injuries, following Zaganczyk v John Pettit. Injuries are not simply valued separately and added together.
What is the maximum compensation for a personal injury in Ireland?
General damages for the most catastrophic injuries are set at around EUR 550,000 under the current Guidelines. Every award must remain proportionate to that ceiling. Special damages for financial loss can be added on top in the most serious cases.
How long do I have to claim compensation for an injury in Ireland?
Usually two years from the date of the accident or from your date of knowledge, under the Statute of Limitations. For injuries that develop gradually, the clock can start from when you first knew the injury was linked to its cause. Time limits are fact-sensitive, so check your own dates early.
Next step: how the claims process works
Do I need a solicitor to find out what my claim is worth?
You are not legally required to use a solicitor, and you can apply to the Injuries Resolution Board directly. Valuing a claim accurately depends on the medical evidence, the right Guidelines band, and the financial losses you can prove, which is where many people choose to take advice. For guidance on your own situation, you can arrange a consultation.
Next step: call 01 903 6408 or request a callback
Is personal injury compensation taxable in Ireland?
No. A personal injury award or settlement is exempt from income tax and capital gains tax in Ireland, whether it comes from a court or an Injuries Resolution Board order to pay. Income you later earn from investing the money can be taxable, unless you are permanently and totally incapacitated, but the compensation itself is not taxed.9
Next step: Revenue on personal injury compensation
Will I get more compensation in court than at the Injuries Resolution Board?
Not automatically. Courts and the Board apply the same Personal Injuries Guidelines, so the starting point is the same. A court can award more or less than a Board assessment, and going to court adds cost, delay, and risk. Whether to accept a Board assessment or go to court depends on the specific case.
Can I claim compensation for a psychological injury?
Yes. A recognised psychiatric condition such as PTSD, an adjustment disorder, anxiety, or depression can be compensated, even without a physical injury. General damages for severe psychiatric damage run from about EUR 80,000 to EUR 170,000 under the Personal Injuries Guidelines, with lower brackets for less severe conditions. A specialist psychiatric report is central to the claim.
Next step: psychological injury claims
How long does a personal injury claim take in Ireland?
It varies. The Injuries Resolution Board generally aims to assess a claim within about nine months of the respondent agreeing to the process, and straightforward claims can settle inside a year. Complex cases, and any claim that goes to court, take longer. Gathering medical evidence early helps avoid delay.
Next step: how the claims process works
What is the average compensation for whiplash in Ireland?
Whiplash is valued as a neck injury under the Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021. A minor whiplash injury that substantially recovers within about a year sits in the lower band, broadly EUR 500 to EUR 12,000 in general damages, with higher bands for longer-lasting or more serious neck injuries. Special damages are added on top.
Next step: neck injury compensation
Legal disclaimer: this information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different and outcomes vary. The figures shown are general damages guideline ranges from the Judicial Council Personal Injuries Guidelines 2021 and are not a promise of any amount. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
Related guides: Personal injury claims process · Damages in Irish law · Medical negligence · Whiplash claims
Gary Matthews Solicitors
Medical negligence solicitors, Dublin
We help people every day of the week (weekends and bank holidays included) that have either been injured or harmed as a result of an accident or have suffered from negligence or malpractice.
Contact us at our Dublin office to get started with your claim today
