subject: The Effects Of The Type And Severity Of Injuries On Compensation [print this page] The victim of a car accident has the right to claim compensation from the individual whose negligence or fault caused the accident. Whether you are applying to the Injuries Board Ireland, or filing at the Court, consulting a qualified, certified, and experienced solicitor is necessary before taking any step.
The first question that car accident victims, or their families, have is how much compensation would be awarded for the injuries? Factors, regarding the injuries, affect the amount of compensation that the Injuries Board or the Court may award the victim.
Type of injuries: Different types of injuries may result from road traffic accidents. While it is possible to claim compensation for all types of injuries, the amount of compensation would vary from one type to another. For example, the compensation you get for fractures would be less than what you get for spinal injuries.
Online compensation calculators may give you an approximate idea about how much compensation is awarded for different types of injuries that affect different body parts or functions.
Degree of injuries: Along with the type of injuries, the compensation calculation also considers the severity of the injuries. If you sustain minor injuries due to the accident, the compensation amount would not be much. However, if your injuries are serious, the amount you get as compensation increases.
Only a qualified and experienced medical practitioner can assess the severity of an injury. Whether you think the injuries are serious or not, make sure you get a medical assessment from a professional after an accident.
Short-term effect of injuries: The compensation calculation is based on the way the injuries affect your life. The immediate consequences of the accident injuries, like the incurred medical costs, doctors fees, medication costs, and such others are considered when calculating the compensation for car accident injuries.
Along with this, the Injuries Board Ireland or the Court also considers other financial losses incurred due to the accident. This may include loss of earnings due to the injuries, and costs associated with visiting the doctor or medical clinic.
Long-term effect of injuries: If the car crash injuries cause any permanent damage, this is also considered by the Injuries Board or the Court. The compensation for serious injuries that affect an individual permanently like loss of a body part, an organ or a bodily function due to an accident, is much higher.
Apart from this, if a victim needs continuous medical care and attention or rehabilitation for the injuries sustained in the accident, the costs for this are also included in the compensation amount.
Though approximate calculations are available, it is a good idea to let a solicitor assess the injuries and determine the amount that would be adequate for compensating you for the injuries. For proper assessment, your solicitor would require, and get, help from other professionals, e.g., doctors, therapists, counsellors, vocational therapists.
It is, therefore, essential that you contact a solicitor if you are the victim of a car accident. This would ensure proper understanding of the injuries assessment and adequate legal representation.
