Personal Injury Claims & Garda Compensation Claims

Hughes Murphy Solicitors have a committed and experienced team of Personal Injury Solicitors in Dublin who can help you evaluate your personal injury claim. From start to finish, we aim to make the whole process as straightforward and easy to understand as possible.

At Hughes Murphy we offer a comprehensive General Litigation and Personal Injury Claims Service. We represent both Personal Injury Plaintiffs and Defendants at all stages of the litigation process. Our firm has developed extensive expertise in Personal Injury (both work-related and road traffic accident claims) and general litigation.

We specialise in Injuries Board applications, liaising with the Motor Insurance Bureau and in handling Circuit Court and High Court cases relating to Road Traffic Accidents, Public Liability and Employer Liability cases.

Often when an accident occurs, the claimant is told that they do not need a solicitor or are put under pressure to accept a fast settlement offer from the Insurance Companies. Using the services of a Solicitor at this early stage in your Injury claim ensures your interests are being protected by professionals who have experience in dealing with the insurance companies and analysing how much your potential claim may be worth.

Where you have been injured in an accident through someone else’s fault, it is important that you act swiftly as there are strict time limits within which it is possible to commence your personal injury claim. In particular, you must put the person liable for your injuries on notice of your claim within 1 month of  the date of your injury.

Generally speaking, the time limit within which you must make a personal injury claim is two years from the date that you know you are injured as a result of an accident.  As a general rule, usually, this is two years from the date of the incident or injury.  However, there are some exceptions to this rule, for example, if you are under 18 then the two year period does not commence until you have reached the age of 18 years. You are advised to submit your completed application to the Injuries Board as soon as possible.

In view of the time restrictions, it is very important that you contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible after an accident to ascertain whether you have a case and to notify all relevant parties where you intend to make a claim for personal injuries.

In Personal Injury cases it is normal for a period of time to pass so that the injury and its impact can be assessed. Our experience shows that it is important that a case should not be settled before the client’s injuries have fully settled and we have a clear medical prognosis as to the future effects of any injury.

Hughes Murphy Solicitors in Dublin can offer expert legal advice on Personal Injury Claims. For further information on personal injury claims or to make an appointment phone 1800 910 912 or contact us here to arrange a callback.

Disclaimer: “In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement”.

The firm has an unrivalled expertise in the area of Garda Compensation dating back to 1982 and thousands of cases have been processed successfully since that date.

History was created in 1987 when the firm brought home the first case of compensation for a member of An Garda Síochána who had contracted hepatitis as a result of contact with a contaminated needle. Such was the medical knowledge at that time the case was split with the Judge awarding interim damages and reviewing the case some ten years later before making the final award.

This firm was also involved in a number of recent test cases in the Garda Compensation list. These cases related to the increase in the number of claims arising out of the fear of contracting a blood borne virus.

Hughes Murphy is proud to be one of the official Solicitors on the Panel of Solicitors with the Garda Representative Association. For further information on Garda Compensation claims or to make an appointment phone 1800 910 912 or contact us here to arrange a callback.

Who can apply for Garda Compensation

Members of An Garda Síochána who sustained injuries maliciously inflicted upon them in the performance of their duties or acting in their general capacity as a member of the force.

A member who is off duty and is assaulted by virtue of them being a member of the force may also apply for compensation.

The member must complete a Form 2 in order to apply for Garda Compensation. Please email julie@hughesmurphy.ie to request a Form 2.

Under the terms of An Garda Síochána Act, 1941, applications must be submitted within three months of the date of the injury on duty.

The Minister has discretion to allow an application to be processed outside of the three month time limit however; this discretion is only used in very limited circumstances. Each case is reviewed by the Minister on a case by case basis.

Submission of Medical Reports
The member must submit medical reports in relation to their injuries and the claim will not be referred to the Chief Medical Officer until such time as a medical report detailing a final prognosis is submitted.

Review by the Chief Medical Officer
The Chief Medical Officer reviews all of the medical reports provided by the member and prepares a report of the member based on an examination by the Chief Medical Officer.

Authorisation from the Minister
If the Minister is of the opinion that the member sustained an injury that is not minor in nature, while on duty and was maliciously inflicted he will issue a certificate of Authorisation authorising the applicant to lodge proceedings in the High Court for compensation.

Possible Change to the Garda Compensation Scheme
It is proposed that the State Claims Agency take over the Garda Compensation Claims. Discussions are currently taking place between the Garda authorities, the Department of Justice and the State Claims Agency.

Hughes Murphy Solicitors offers expert legal advice to all members of An Garda Síochána on Garda Compensation Claims. For further information on Garda Compensation or to make an appointment phone 1800 910 912 or contact us here to arrange a callback.