What to Say to Your Insurer After a Car Accident in Ireland (And What to Never Say)
Author: Gary Matthews, Principal Solicitor - Law Society of Ireland PC No. S8178 • 3rd Floor, Ormond Building, 31-36 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin D07 • 01 903 6408 •
After a car accident in Ireland, notify your own insurer promptly - but stick to basic facts: date, location, vehicles involved, and policy number. Do NOT discuss fault, injuries, or speed. You have no obligation to speak with the other driver's insurer at all. Under the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019, s.16, late notification alone cannot void your claim if the insurer isn't prejudiced. Your statutory obligations at the scene (Road Traffic Act 1961, s.106) are limited to exchanging name, address, registration, and insurance details - not a narrative of what happened.
What's new (February 2026): The FSPO received 1,818 insurance complaints in 2024, up 26% on 2023, with motor insurance at 41% of all insurance complaints. CICA 2019 claims-handling duties (Sections 16 to 18) are now fully in effect. The IRB continues to assess RTA injury claims using the Personal Injuries Guidelines (which replaced the Book of Quantum in 2021).
In short: Notify your insurer with basic facts → decline to discuss fault or injuries → refuse recorded statements until you've spoken to a solicitor → never speak with the other driver's insurer without legal advice. Sources: Citizens Information, CICA 2019 s.16.
Contents
Your insurer vs the other driver's insurer: the Two-Insurer Rule
The distinction between your own insurer (first-party) and the other driver's insurer (third-party) is the Two-Insurer Rule, and it's the single most important thing to understand after a car accident in Ireland. Different legal obligations apply to each, and confusing the two is where most people get caught out.
Your own insurer (first-party)
Your motor insurance policy contains a cooperation clause requiring you to notify your insurer of any accident and assist with their investigation. Failing to cooperate can, in theory, give the insurer grounds to refuse your claim under the policy terms. That said, cooperation means providing honest basic facts. It does NOT mean speculating about speed, diagnosing your own injuries, or agreeing to an immediate recorded statement. Under the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019, s.16, your insurer must handle claims promptly and fairly, and cannot reject a claim solely because you notified outside the specified window - unless that delay actually prejudiced them.
The other driver's insurer (third-party)
You have absolutely no contractual or legal obligation to speak with the other driver's insurance company. None. When they call (and they often will, within days of the accident) they're gathering information to protect their own policyholder's interests, not yours. Anything you say can and will be used to reduce or deny your claim. The safest response is a polite refusal, directing them to your solicitor. This applies whether the accident was your fault, their fault, or unclear.
Your own insurer (first-party)
Other driver's insurer (third-party)
What does Irish law actually require you to say after an accident?
Under Section 106 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, your legal obligations at the scene are specific and limited. When requested by a Garda, an injured party, or a property-damage victim, you must provide your name and address, the address where the vehicle is ordinarily kept, the vehicle owner's name and address (if different from the driver), your vehicle registration number, and your insurer's name and policy expiry date. As Citizens Information confirms, if no Garda is present, the accident must be reported to the nearest Garda station as soon as possible.
A detail that catches many people off guard: the law does NOT require you to provide a narrative of how the accident happened, your speed, whether you were distracted, or the state of your injuries. Those five statutory data points are the ceiling of your legal obligation at the roadside, not the floor. Everything else is voluntary - and volunteering it can undermine a future injury claim.
Ireland vs the UK: Unlike in England and Wales where the Civil Procedure Rules require a formal "letter of claim" within a fixed protocol timeline, Ireland's process runs through the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB, formerly PIAB). If you've read UK guidance, note that Ireland's claims process, time limits, and obligations are different. Always check you're reading advice specific to the Republic of Ireland.
The First-Call Protocol: the exact script for your own insurer
This is the First-Call Protocol: the minimum you need to say to satisfy your policy's notification requirement, without volunteering anything that could undermine a future claim. Here's what to say, and exactly where to stop.
"I'm calling to report that I was involved in a road traffic accident on [date] at approximately [time] at [location]. My policy number is [number]. The other vehicle's registration was [reg]. I have a Garda PULSE reference number: [number if available]."
"I am still seeking medical assessment and I'm not in a position to discuss my health at this time. I'll provide medical details once I've been fully assessed by my GP."
"I'd prefer to provide a detailed account in writing once I've had the opportunity to gather my thoughts. I don't want to speculate or provide inaccurate information."
"The collision happened very suddenly. I can't give accurate estimates of speed or distance, and I don't want to guess."
"I'd rather not give a recorded statement at this point. I'll cooperate fully once I've had the chance to speak with a solicitor."
The timing matters: make this call within a day or two. Prompt notification strengthens your position. But notification is NOT the same as giving a full statement. You're ticking the box on your policy's reporting requirement, nothing more.
Should you call or email your insurer?
Either works, but email or your insurer's online portal gives you one advantage the phone doesn't: a written record you control. On the phone, the insurer logs what you said in their own words. In an email, your exact phrasing is preserved. If you do call, follow up with a brief confirmation email summarising what was discussed. If your policy requires telephone notification, make the call using the script above, then send a written summary to the claims email address the same day.
Dashcam footage: If you have dashcam footage of the accident, tell your own insurer that footage exists. This supports your cooperation obligation. However, do NOT share footage with the other driver's insurer. Let your solicitor decide when and how to disclose it. Premature disclosure can allow the other side to build a narrative around what the camera shows before your own case is fully prepared.
You can have someone on the call: There's no rule preventing you from having a family member, friend, or solicitor listen in while you speak to your insurer. Having a witness on the line changes the dynamic and gives you someone to confirm what was said if a dispute arises later.
What if the other driver's insurer contacts you?
When the other driver's insurer rings (and this can happen within 48 hours of the accident) they're not calling to help you. They represent the opposing side in what may become a legal dispute. You owe them nothing.
"Thank you for contacting me, but I won't be discussing this matter directly. Please direct any communications to my solicitor at [name/number]. I won't be providing any statement or accepting any offers."
If you haven't instructed a solicitor yet, say: "I'm currently taking legal advice and I'll provide my solicitor's details in due course. In the meantime, I won't be making any statements." Then end the call.
If the other insurer offers a quick settlement ("we'll sort the car out and give you €2,000 for the inconvenience"): This is a tactic known as third-party capture. Decline firmly. Do not sign anything. Do not accept payment. The offer very likely undervalues your claim - particularly if you have injuries that haven't fully manifested.
If they say they just need a "few details to process the claim": They're gathering evidence to minimise their payout. Say nothing beyond confirming your name and directing them to your solicitor.
Five things to never say to any insurer after a car accident in Ireland
Every guide says "don't admit fault." That's correct, but insufficient. These are the specific phrases and traps that actually damage claims in practice, based on what we see go wrong repeatedly.
| Never say this | Why it's damaging | Say this instead |
|---|---|---|
| "I'm fine" / "I'm grand" | Recorded as an admission of no injury. Soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and concussion often take days or weeks to present fully. | "I'm still being assessed medically." |
| "It was my fault" / "Sorry about that" | Treated as an admission of liability. Under the Civil Liability Act 1961, s.34, contributory negligence can reduce your compensation - and casual apologies are used to establish it. | State the bare facts only: "A collision occurred at [location]." |
| "I was doing about 60" / any speed estimate | Speed estimates can be used by engineers to reconstruct the accident against you - or to argue you had time to avoid the collision. | "I can't provide an accurate estimate and I don't want to guess." |
| "I didn't see them coming" | Can be twisted to imply inattention or failure to keep a proper lookout - a basis for contributory negligence. | "The collision happened very suddenly." |
| "It all happened so fast" | Suggests you weren't fully aware of road conditions or weren't driving with due care. | Say nothing about the mechanics. Defer to a written account. |
One aspect the official guidance doesn't cover: the most damaging statements aren't dramatic confessions. They're casual remarks, social pleasantries and nervous chatter, that get noted, transcribed, and produced months later at an Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) assessment or in court to undermine credibility.
What not to say on social media after a car accident
"What to say to your insurer" doesn't end when you hang up the phone. Irish insurers and their investigators routinely monitor claimants' social media accounts after an accident. A Facebook post saying "back to the gym!" or a holiday photo on Instagram can be screenshotted and used to challenge a claim for ongoing pain and restricted mobility. The safest approach: do not post anything about the accident, your injuries, or your physical activities while a claim is active. Tell family and friends not to tag you in posts either. Adjusters check tagged content too.
How do insurance adjusters use your words against you?
Insurance adjusters are trained professionals. Their job is to minimise the insurer's payout, and they're skilled at conversational techniques that put you at ease while extracting information that damages your claim.
The "How are you?" trap
An adjuster's opening question ("How are you feeling after the accident?") sounds like normal courtesy. The danger is that social conditioning prompts a reflexive "I'm fine, thanks" or "Just a bit sore." Adrenaline and shock routinely mask the symptoms of soft tissue injuries, whiplash, nerve damage, and concussion for days or even weeks after a collision. An early "I'm fine" on a recorded call becomes ammunition months later when you're claiming for chronic pain. The insurer's argument: if you were fine at the time, the injury must be fabricated or unrelated.
The speculation trap
Questions about speed, distance, and timing ("How fast were you going?", "How far away was the other car?") are designed to lock you into estimates you can't verify. If your guess is even slightly off, the insurer's engineers can calculate that your account is physically inconsistent, attacking your overall credibility. If you estimate a speed above the limit, even marginally, they'll argue contributory negligence.
The cooperation illusion
Adjusters frame extensive questioning as standard procedure: "We just need this to process your claim." The implication is that refusing to answer means your claim stalls. In reality, your cooperation obligation (with your own insurer) requires honest basic facts, not speculation, self-diagnosis, or unrepresented narratives. With the other driver's insurer, you owe no cooperation at all.
Where your words actually end up
Every phone call is logged, timestamped, and often recorded. Your exact phrasing enters an internal claims file that follows your case through IRB assessment, mediation, and court. Months later, an insurer's barrister can read your own words back to you from a transcript you never saw. From handling these cases in Dublin practice, the claimants who are most surprised in cross-examination are those who gave casual, unguarded phone statements in the first week after the accident, not realising those words had been preserved verbatim.
The follow-up call trap
Adjusters frequently call back two to three weeks after the accident, once the initial shock has passed. The tone is friendlier, the questions sound casual, and you're no longer running on adrenaline. That's the point. They're hoping you'll relax, offer more detail, or phrase things differently than you did on the first call. Any inconsistency between call one and call two, no matter how minor, gets flagged in the claims file as a credibility issue. If the insurer calls again, use the same script. Better still, refer them to your solicitor.
Can the insurer force you to give a recorded statement?
The other driver's insurer cannot compel you to give a recorded statement, or any statement at all. You have no contractual relationship with them. Decline without hesitation.
Your own insurer's position is more nuanced. Your policy's cooperation clause may eventually require you to provide a formal statement. But "eventually" is the operative word. Giving a recorded statement immediately after an accident - while you're shocked, potentially medicated, and before you know the full extent of your injuries or damage - locks you into a version of events that any deviation from will be challenged aggressively. For a deeper breakdown of your rights, preparation strategies, and the specific risks involved, see our dedicated guide to giving a recorded statement to an insurer in Ireland.
"I'm happy to cooperate fully, but I'd like to provide a formal statement once I've had the opportunity to consult with a solicitor and ensure I can give a complete and accurate account. I don't want to provide information that's incomplete or inaccurate at this early stage."
Between assessment and settlement, the sticking point is usually what was said early on. Premature recorded statements create problems that are expensive and difficult to correct later.
What is third-party capture, and why should you watch for it?
Third-party capture occurs when the at-fault driver's insurer contacts you directly, often within days, offering rapid vehicle repairs, a rental car, and a lump sum - typically €2,000 to €5,000 - to "resolve everything quickly." The catch: you sign a full and final settlement waiver, permanently barring you from claiming further compensation regardless of how your injuries develop. Irish solicitors have warned that this practice preys on vulnerability and shock.
The danger is concrete. Soft tissue injuries, spinal issues, and psychological trauma such as driving anxiety or PTSD routinely take weeks to fully manifest. A claimant who accepts €3,000 on day three may face €15,000+ in physiotherapy, lost earnings, and ongoing treatment. Under the Judicial Council's Personal Injuries Guidelines (which replaced the Book of Quantum in 2021), the appropriate compensation for even minor whiplash with substantial recovery within six months ranges from €500 to €3,000, rising to €3,000 to €6,000 if recovery takes up to a year, and more serious injuries attract significantly higher amounts.
If someone from the other driver's insurer calls offering quick money, repairs, or telling you "a solicitor will just slow things down": Stop the conversation. Accept nothing. Sign nothing. These are hallmarks of third-party capture. Direct all further communication to your solicitor.
What happens if you notified your insurer late? (CICA 2019 protections)
Under Section 16 of the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019, your insurer cannot refuse your claim solely because you missed the policy's notification window. The insurer must demonstrate that the late notification actually prejudiced their ability to investigate. This is a significant consumer protection, and it's directly relevant to the panicked driver who waited too long to call.
To understand why this matters, consider what happened before CICA. In Moloney v Cashel Taverns Ltd [2020] IEHC 658, the High Court ruled that an insurer was justified in refusing indemnity after the policyholder delayed notification by 17 months, even though the policyholder knew about the incident the entire time. Under the old law, the insurer did not need to prove it was prejudiced by the delay. CICA reversed this position for consumer policyholders. If your motor policy is a consumer contract (and almost all private motor policies are), the insurer now carries the burden of proving prejudice before rejecting your claim for late notification.
Before CICA 2019
After CICA 2019 (consumer policies)
CICA 2019 also imposes claims-handling duties on insurers: they must handle claims promptly and fairly, engage with you and allow you to submit evidence, and inform you of the outcome and reasons. These duties took effect from September 2020 (Sections 16 to 18), with additional provisions from September 2021. If your insurer falls short, you can escalate to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO).
Practical point: While CICA protects you from technical rejection for late notification, notifying promptly is still strongly advisable. Delay can create complications around evidence preservation, witness availability, and (if the other party claims against you) your own insurer may argue they were prejudiced. Notify quickly, but keep it factual.
How do early statements affect your IRB injury claim?
Every personal injury claim arising from a car accident in Ireland (except medical negligence) must first be submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB, formerly the Personal Injuries Assessment Board or PIAB) before court proceedings can begin. The IRB assesses compensation using the Judicial Council's Personal Injuries Guidelines. What you say to insurers in the early days directly affects this process.
Statements given to insurers, particularly recorded ones, become part of the claims file. If your early statement says "I'm fine" but you later claim for chronic neck pain, the inconsistency will be highlighted at the IRB assessment, in mediation, or in Circuit Court proceedings. From handling these cases in Dublin practice, a pattern emerges: claimants who gave detailed statements before consulting a solicitor frequently see reduced assessments, not because their injuries aren't real, but because minor wording inconsistencies allow the insurer to challenge credibility.
Under the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of accident or date of knowledge. But a formal Letter of Claim should ideally be sent within one month - and insurers know that. During early calls, some adjusters subtly encourage informal handling ("we're looking into it, no need to rush") while the clock ticks toward that one-month marker.
Common scenarios: who do you speak to, and what do you say?
You were clearly not at fault and have no injuries (property damage only): Notify your own insurer with basic facts. You don't need to call the other driver's insurer, and they should contact their own. If they or their insurer contact you, you're under no obligation to engage. In most property-only cases, Irish motor insurers settle between themselves under knock-for-knock agreements, where each insurer covers its own policyholder's repairs and waives subrogation against the other. You may never need to speak with the other side at all. Provide registration and insurance details you exchanged at the scene, and let the insurers handle it.
You were not at fault and you are injured: Speak to a solicitor before making any detailed statement to any insurer. Notify your own insurer briefly (date, location, vehicles), but defer all injury discussion and any request for a recorded statement. Do NOT speak with the other driver's insurer at all. Your solicitor will handle communications and initiate the IRB process.
You're at fault (or unsure about fault): You must still notify your own insurer - this is a policy obligation. Stick rigidly to factual basics. Do NOT admit fault or apologise during the call. Fault is a legal determination, not a casual admission. Under the Civil Liability Act 1961, contributory negligence is assessed by the court, and premature admissions can distort that assessment. If there's any chance of injury - to you or anyone else - get legal advice promptly.
You're a passenger and need to claim against a friend or family member's insurer: The claim is against the insurer, not the individual. Their premiums don't increase because you were injured - liability insurance exists for exactly this situation. Still, social awkwardness causes many passengers to downplay injuries or delay. Don't. Notify and seek advice early. For more detail on passenger-specific situations, see our guide to passenger claims after an accident.
A foreign driver hit you: Exchange their international insurance details or Green Card information at the scene. If they were driving a foreign-registered vehicle, the claim may involve the MIBI foreign claims process. Notify your own insurer as normal, and seek solicitor advice on the jurisdictional aspects.
The private settlement trap: Some drivers agree at the scene to "sort it out privately" without involving insurers. This is risky. If the other driver later claims for whiplash or other injuries (which can happen months after the collision), your insurer discovers an unreported accident and may treat the non-notification as a policy breach. You should always notify your insurer, even if both parties initially agree no claim will be made. Notification protects you. Private deals at the roadside do not.
Will notifying my insurer affect my no-claims bonus?
Notification is NOT the same as making a claim. Simply reporting an accident to your insurer, as your policy requires, should not trigger a no-claims bonus (NCB) reduction. The NCB is typically affected only when a claim is paid out on your policy. If the accident wasn't your fault and the other driver's insurer covers the costs, your NCB should remain intact.
That said, this is where people create the problem they're trying to avoid. Drivers who don't notify because they fear premium increases risk a far worse outcome: if the other party later claims against their insurer, the insurer discovers the unreported accident and may invoke the non-cooperation provisions. Late or non-notification can void your cover entirely. The counter-intuitive reality: notifying promptly protects you, even when it feels risky.
What can you do if the insurer treats you unfairly?
The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) provides a free, independent, and legally binding complaint resolution service. In 2024, the FSPO received 1,818 insurance-related complaints - a 26% increase on 2023 - with motor insurance accounting for 41% of all insurance complaints, according to the FSPO Overview of Complaints 2024. The Ombudsman can direct an insurer to pay compensation of up to €500,000 and/or rectify the conduct complained of.
If your insurer unreasonably delays your claim, rejects it without proper investigation, fails to engage with your evidence, or breaches the claims-handling duties under CICA 2019, the FSPO is your escalation route. You must first exhaust the insurer's internal complaints process, but if that doesn't resolve the issue, the FSPO is both free and powerful.
Key phrases to use and key phrases to avoid
| Situation | Safe phrase | Phrase to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Opening the call to your own insurer | "I'm reporting a road traffic accident on [date] at [location]. My policy number is [X]." | Launching into a narrative of how it happened. |
| Asked about injuries | "I'm still being medically assessed and can't discuss injuries at this stage." | "I'm fine" / "Just a bit sore" / "I think I'm OK." |
| Asked for detailed account | "I'll provide a detailed written account once I've gathered my thoughts." | Any estimate of speed, distance, or fault. |
| Asked for recorded statement | "I'd prefer to cooperate once I've consulted with a solicitor." | "Sure, go ahead." |
| Other driver's insurer calls | "Please direct all communications to my solicitor." | Engaging in any substantive discussion. |
| Offered a quick settlement | "I'm not accepting any offers or signing anything at this time." | Accepting payment or signing a waiver under pressure. |
Timeline: what to say, what to do, and when
| When | Action | Communication |
|---|---|---|
| At the scene | Exchange s.106 statutory details | Name, address, registration, insurance details only. No narrative, no apologies, no admission. |
| Same day / next day | See your GP (even if you feel fine) | Report symptoms - this creates a contemporaneous medical record. |
| Within 1-2 days | Notify your own insurer | Use the first-call script. Date, location, vehicles, policy number. Defer injuries and detail. |
| Within 1 week | Instruct a solicitor (if injured) | Solicitor takes over insurer communications. You stop speaking to any insurer directly. |
| Within 1 month | Letter of Claim sent (if pursuing PI) | Solicitor sends formal notification to the at-fault party via Form A to satisfy statutory requirements. |
| Ongoing | Preserve evidence | Request CCTV before it's overwritten. Do NOT post about the accident on social media. |
Common questions
Do I have to tell my insurance about an accident if I'm not claiming?
Yes - most motor policies require you to report all accidents, regardless of whether you intend to claim. Notification and claiming are separate things. Failing to notify can breach your policy terms and give the insurer grounds to refuse cover if the other party later makes a claim against you. Under CICA 2019, s.16, late notification alone doesn't void your claim - but prompt reporting is still strongly advisable.
From practice: We regularly see cases where people settled privately at the scene, didn't notify, and then faced a third-party claim months later with no insurer support because the policy terms were breached.
Next step: Notify your insurer with basic facts using the script above. Keep it factual.
Can the insurance company force me to give a recorded statement?
The other driver's insurer cannot force you to give any statement at all. Your own insurer's policy may eventually require a formal statement under the cooperation clause, but you're not required to give one immediately after an accident while you're in shock and before you know the full picture. You can lawfully defer until you've sought legal advice. See our dedicated guide on recorded statements to insurers in Ireland.
Why this matters: Recorded statements lock you into a version of events. Inconsistencies, even minor ones caused by shock, are routinely used to challenge credibility months later.
Next step: Use the deferral script and consult a solicitor before providing any recorded account.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company?
No. You have no legal or contractual obligation to speak with the other driver's insurer. They represent the opposing side. Anything you say, however innocent, can be used to reduce or reject your claim. Politely decline and direct them to your solicitor.
From practice: Clients who engaged with the other driver's insurer before consulting a solicitor almost always regret it. Statements made in good faith are routinely used out of context.
Next step: If they've already called, don't panic. Instruct a solicitor, who will notify them that all future communication must go through your legal representative.
What if I said "I'm fine" at the scene or to the insurer?
It's not ideal, but it's not fatal to your claim. Courts and the IRB understand that people say "I'm fine" reflexively in the immediate aftermath of a collision. Adrenaline, shock, and social conditioning all play a role. A GP visit documenting your symptoms soon after the accident helps counteract any early "I'm fine" statement. What damages a claim more is a consistent pattern of downplaying injuries over multiple conversations.
Next step: See your GP as soon as possible. The medical record creates a contemporaneous, professional assessment that carries far more weight than a casual remark made under stress.
Will calling my insurer make my premium go up?
Notification alone should not increase your premium or reduce your no-claims bonus. NCB is typically affected by claims paid, not by accident reports. If the accident wasn't your fault, your NCB should be unaffected. However, not notifying creates a far bigger risk: if the other party claims against you later and your insurer finds you didn't report, they may refuse to cover you.
Next step: Notify promptly. If you're concerned, read the NCB section above for more detail.
How long do I have to notify my insurer after an accident?
Your policy will specify a timeframe - often "as soon as reasonably practicable" or within a set number of days. The Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019 adds a crucial safeguard: your insurer cannot reject a claim solely because you notified late, unless the delay actually prejudiced them. That said, notifying within 1-2 days is best practice - it shows good faith and avoids complications with evidence preservation.
Next step: Call your insurer today using the script above. If it's been longer than a few days, call anyway - CICA protects you from technical rejection.
What information should I give my insurer?
Date and time of accident, location, vehicles involved (registrations), names exchanged, Garda PULSE number (if available), and your policy number. That's it for the initial call. Do NOT provide a narrative of the accident, estimates of speed, descriptions of injuries, or opinions on fault. You can provide more detail later, in writing, with legal guidance.
Next step: Use the first-call script - it contains exactly what to provide and where to stop.
What if I think the accident was my fault?
Do not admit fault to any insurer. Fault is a legal conclusion, not a casual assessment made in the aftermath of a collision. Under the Civil Liability Act 1961, s.34, contributory negligence is a complex legal determination. What feels like "your fault" may, on proper analysis, involve shared liability or mitigating factors that significantly affect the outcome.
From practice: Many clients initially believe an accident was entirely their fault, until the evidence reveals the other driver was speeding, on their phone, or failed to signal. Premature admissions can't easily be undone.
Next step: Report the accident with basic facts. Consult a solicitor before making any statement about fault or liability.
Can I complain if my insurer handles my claim unfairly?
Yes. First, use the insurer's internal complaints process. If that doesn't resolve it, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) investigates complaints for free and issues legally binding decisions. In 2024, motor insurance was the most common insurance complaint category - 41% of all insurance complaints to the FSPO, per the FSPO 2024 Overview.
Next step: Document all interactions with your insurer. If you believe they're breaching CICA 2019 duties, read the FSPO section and consider filing a complaint.
Does this advice apply if I was a learner driver or driving someone else's car?
The core communication principles apply to all drivers. However, learner drivers and named/unnamed drivers face additional insurance complications around policy coverage. The advice on what to say (and not say) to an insurer remains the same, but the coverage question is separate. See our guides on learner driver accident claims and claiming when driving someone else's car for the specific issues.
Related questions you might ask next
What should I do immediately after a car accident in Ireland? Scene safety, exchanging details, Garda reporting, medical attention, and evidence preservation are covered in our comprehensive guide on what to do after a car accident in Ireland. This page focuses specifically on insurer communications - what to say and what to defer.
How do I actually make a personal injury claim? All personal injury claims from road traffic accidents must go through the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) before court. Your solicitor handles the application, medical report, and Form A. See Citizens Information's IRB guide for the process overview.
What if the other driver was uninsured? Claims against uninsured or untraced drivers follow a different route through MIBI. See our guide on claiming against an uninsured driver in Ireland.
Injured in a car accident and unsure what to say to the insurer? Speaking to a solicitor before your next insurer call can prevent costly mistakes. Contact Gary Matthews Solicitors for a no-obligation conversation about your situation. 01 903 6408 - available 24/7.
Sources and further reading
- Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019, Section 16 - Irish Statute Book (Enacted December 2019. Sections 16 to 18 commenced September 2020)
- Road Traffic Act 1961, Section 106 - Law Reform Commission Revised Acts
- Motor Vehicle Collisions - Citizens Information (Updated 2025)
- Making a Claim - Injuries Resolution Board (2025)
- Civil Liability Act 1961 - Irish Statute Book
- Injury Claims in Ireland: Beware of Third-Party Capture - Augustus Cullen Law LLP (2024)
- Personal Injuries Guidelines - Judicial Council of Ireland (Adopted March 2021)
- Make a Complaint - Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (2025)
- How to Make a Personal Injuries Claim - Courts Service of Ireland (2025)
- Overview of Complaints 2024 - FSPO (Published March 2025)
- Injuries Resolution Board - Citizens Information (Updated 2025)
This guide covers insurer communications after a car accident in Ireland. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different. If you've been injured, consult a solicitor experienced in personal injury claims for advice specific to your circumstances.
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
