subject: Get To Know The Details About Authorisation From The Injuries Board [print this page] If you are the victim of an accident in the workplace and sustain injuries in it, you need to apply to the Injuries Board Ireland for compensation. The Injuries Board is an independent body set up as per the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 to handle the assessment of injury claims.
Every claim related to personal injury, whether it is a road traffic accident, a public utility related accident or a workplace accident, needs to be submitted to the Injuries Board first. The only exception is the claims involving medical negligence. These need to be filed to the Court directly.
The assessment of damages by the Board is a document-based process. There are no hearings, examinations or cross-examinations of witnesses. However, the Board does not provide the compensation to the victims. Instead, it orders the entity at fault for the accident to pay the victim the compensation for the damages.
In certain circumstances, the Injuries Board does not take up the task of assessment. For example, if there is a legal dispute regarding liability, the Injuries Board may not take up this task. Instead, it issues an Authorisation letter to the applicant to take the claim to the Court System.
What is an Authorisation? This is a legal document that gives the applicant, i.e., the victim of the accident, the right to take the claim to the Court. Every personal injury related matter needs to be reported to the Injuries Board first. Only if they deem it necessary to be taken to Court do they issue this document.
When does the Injuries Board issue an Authorisation? The Injuries Board may issue an Authorisation if they consider that a claim involves legal points of dispute regarding liability for the accident. It may also issue this document if the applicant or the respondent rejects the assessment of damages completed by the Board.
What is the implication of the issuance of an Authorisation? The issuance of the Authorisation implies that the applicant may take the claim to the Court. Whether it is due to a legal question or due to rejection by any of the involved parties, this implies that the matter requires the involvement of the Court to reach a settlement.
Do you need the help of a solicitor to get an Authorisation? You do not need to hire a solicitor when applying to the Injuries Board for a personal injury compensation claim. However, it is better to seek legal advice and guidance from a legal professional right from the beginning to ensure that your approach is appropriate.
Moreover, after the issuance of the Authorisation, you would need to proceed to the Court with the matter. You would need to appoint a legal representative for this. If you already have a solicitor working for you, he/she may be able to handle the litigation proceedings as your representative.
Your lack of legal knowledge and relevant experience makes it necessary to appoint a solicitor to handle a personal injury claim. Whether it is to apply to the Injuries Board or to take the matter to the Court, a competent legal professional would be of considerable help in each of these steps.
