When to Contact a Car Accident Solicitor in Ireland
Checked September 2025 · Official sources above the fold: Injuries.ie – Making a Claim Personal Injuries Commission – Official Report Courts Service – 2024 Report
Short answer: Call a solicitor after your GP/A&E visit and Garda report. Early advice protects the IRB/PIAB clock, preserves CCTV and records, guides insurer contact, and prevents low offers that undermine later valuation.
Within days, after medical care and a Garda reference. IRB/PIAB lodgement pauses time. Share basics only with insurers. Request CCTV early. Use MIBI for uninsured or untraced drivers.
How soon?
Within days, after GP/A&E and a Garda report.
Clock-stop
IRB/PIAB lodgement pauses time (s.50).
Insurer calls
Basics only; no statements or releases.
CCTV/DSAR
Request footage before overwrite windows.
Uninsured
Use MIBI route; notice is strict.
What smart timing looks like in Ireland
Here's the clean order that works. Get checked by a doctor, report the crash to Gardaí, then make the first call. That order matters. Medical notes and a Garda reference anchor everything that follows. Early legal input doesn't turn a claim into a fight. It simply lines up the pieces so nothing slips through the cracks.
Most road injury claims begin with a formal application to the Injuries Resolution Board. Once a complete file is lodged, the usual two-year limit pauses. That pause only starts after you file, not before. Waiting is risky. CCTV refresh cycles can erase key angles, dash-cam storage overwrites old clips, and witnesses go quiet or change phones. Insurers may ring for a quick chat or post a small cheque. Those steps are designed to close a file cheaply. A short call with a solicitor helps you share the basics without giving up leverage.
Recent Irish appellate decisions keep the Personal Injuries Guidelines at the center of valuation. That means reports, diaries, and treatment notes should speak the same language as assessors and judges. Getting that structure in place early reduces friction. If the other driver is uninsured or untraced, time is tighter and notices matter. If symptoms arrive late, that's still common; what counts is a clear medical trail tied to the event.
Your goal is simple: calm steps, in order, with proof. Open a file early, secure footage before it disappears, and keep receipts together. Ask for a straight plan on timelines and likely next moves. With that in hand, you can decide whether to accept an assessment, negotiate, or take the next step. You keep control, protect value, and avoid unnecessary stress.
Timing that protects your position
Clear signals it's time to call
Answer in brief: Call once you've had medical care and reported the crash. You'll lock in next steps before memories fade and footage cycles over.
Mandatory first step: the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB process; Personal Injuries Commission Report). A complete, timely application pauses the limitation clock while assessment runs. Start early to avoid gaps and low assessments.
Related guides: Personal Injuries Commission - Time Limits Report · Government Injury Benefit Guide
First 72 hours: steps before and after you call
Answer in brief: Get medical notes, report to Gardaí, secure evidence, and open an IRB file early.
See a doctor and keep receipts. Report to Gardaí and note the reference number. Request CCTV before overwrite using your access rights (DSAR). Save dash-cam files. Swap details and note admissions. Don't accept cash or sign insurer forms.
Deadline helper (two-year rule + IRB pause)
Answer in brief: Count two years less a day, then add the IRB pause window after you lodge a complete application.
Privacy-safe, runs in your browser
Quick check uses the general two-year rule and assumes a complete IRB application.Limitation end (no IRB): —
With IRB pause (example): —
Recent Irish decisions that shape timing and value
Answer in brief: The Guidelines remain central. Multi-injury valuations need clear reasoning. Build medical evidence early to match judicial expectations.
Delaney v The Personal Injuries Board & Ors – Supreme Court, [2024] IESC 10
The Supreme Court confirmed the Personal Injuries Guidelines' legal effect while finding part of the Judicial Council Act unconstitutional. Guideline-anchored assessments remain the norm unless reasons justify departure. Read: Faherty J · Charleton J.
Collins v Parm & Ors – Court of Appeal, [2024] IECA 150
The Court of Appeal reduced an award as disproportionate and stressed sound use of the Guidelines for multi-injury valuation. Judgment: [2024] IECA 150 (PDF).
Do I need a solicitor for IRB/PIAB?
Answer: It isn't required, but most people benefit because the IRB process is formal and evidence-led. Good forms, targeted medicals, and complete loss proofing reduce disputes and improve outcomes.
Why it matters: Early structure supports fair assessments and fewer delays.
Next step: Review official steps, then call if anything is unclear.
Sources: injuries.ie · Personal Injuries Commission Report
How long do I have to start a claim?
Answer: Generally two years less a day from your date of knowledge. Lodging a complete IRB application pauses time while assessment runs.
Why it matters: Waiting risks missed deadlines and lost footage.
Next step: Confirm dates and file early if unsure.
Sources: revisedacts.lawreform.ie · injuries.ie – process changes
Should I speak to the insurer before I get advice?
Answer: Notify promptly, but stick to basics. Avoid recorded statements or medical releases until you've had advice.
Why it matters: Early statements can limit later valuation.
Next step: Take a short call with a solicitor first.
Sources: Personal Injuries Commission Report · injuries.ie
What if the other driver is uninsured or untraced?
Answer: Use the MIBI route for uninsured or untraced drivers and follow notice rules. Prompt reporting and evidence preservation are key.
Why it matters: Late or incorrect notice can derail an otherwise valid claim.
Next step: Start MIBI steps and secure evidence now.
Sources: mibi.ie – uninsured vehicles · gov.ie – DSAR
What if symptoms appear days after the crash?
Answer: That's common. Get examined and documented as soon as symptoms start. Later notes can still support causation if a clinician ties them to the crash.
Why it matters: Continuity of care strengthens credibility.
Next step: Ask your GP to outline a clear timeline in notes.
Sources: injuries.ie · Personal Injuries Commission Report
What should I bring to the first call?
Answer: Keep it simple: the Garda reference, medical receipts, any photos or dash-cam clips, and your work details for wage loss. If you don't have everything yet, still call.
Why it matters: Early documents shape your IRB file.
Next step: Start a shared evidence folder and add as you go.
Sources: gov.ie · injuries.ie
Will calling a solicitor affect car repairs or a hire car?
Answer: No. Injury and property damage often move on parallel tracks. A solicitor can help coordinate repairs or hire while keeping your injury claim protected.
Why it matters: Poorly handled property issues can spill into the injury file.
Next step: Share repair and hire invoices with your file handler.
Sources: Personal Injuries Commission Report · injuries.ie
How fast can an IRB application be lodged?
Answer: Often within weeks once initial medical notes and key facts are in. Accuracy beats speed when it protects valuation and timelines.
Why it matters: A complete file avoids rework and delays.
Next step: Gather the basics, then lodge without waiting for full recovery.
Sources: injuries.ie – process changes · Personal Injuries Commission Report
Does calling early make the case adversarial?
Answer: No. The goal is clarity, not conflict. Many matters resolve at IRB stage or by direct negotiation when the evidence is tidy.
Why it matters: Calm process keeps stress and costs down.
Next step: Ask for a step-by-step plan and expected timelines.
Sources: injuries.ie · Personal Injuries Commission Report
Talk to a solicitor today
Answer in brief: No obligation first call. Clear next steps. No pressure.
Phone: 01 9036408 · Email: info@personalinjurysolicitorsdublin.info
Regulated by the Law Society of Ireland.
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
