You have two years to bring a personal injury claim in Ireland. Once this time limit has expired, you will not be able to obtain compensation.

There are some exceptions to this rule. In the majority of cases, however, you have just two years. That is why early legal advice from a personal injury solicitor is so important.

To start a personal injury claim, contact us at Mullins & Treacy LLP Solicitors.

Call us now on 051 391 488 or email reception@mullinstreacy.ie for a no obligation enquiry.

Personal injury claim time limits Ireland

In Ireland, you have just two years to bring a personal injury claim. This starts from the date of knowledge. Usually, this is the date the accident happened.

For example, imagine you are knocked off your bike and break your leg. You know that you have suffered an injury through no fault of your own. If you exchange details with the driver, then you also know the identity of the person responsible.

At this stage, you should reasonably suspect that you are entitled to make a personal injury claim. The two year time limit will therefore start ticking. So, if the accident happened on 1 March 2018, then you have until 1 March 2020 to bring a personal injury claim.

If you miss the deadline, your window of opportunity has expired. You cannot bring a claim for compensation, even if you are clearly the victim of personal injury.

A later date of knowledge

However, there are times when the date of knowledge is not the same as the date of the accident. This might happen if –

You were not aware of your injury
You were not aware that negligence had occurred
You did not know the identity of the person or organisation at fault for your injury

If any of these apply, then you might be able to rely on a later date of knowledge. If so, the two year time limit will start on the date you should reasonably have suspected you have grounds for a personal injury claim.

Exceptions to the two year rule

There are also some other exceptions to the two year rule. The main one is claims involving minors, meaning children under the age of 18.

In Ireland, people under the age of 18 cannot bring a personal injury claim on their own. Therefore, the two year time limit does not start until their 18^th birthday. It is possible to start a claim before their 18^th birthday, but someone must act on the child’s behalf. This person is called their ‘next friend’.

Also, if the injured has limited mental capacity, the two year time limit does not start until they are considered mentally capable.

Personal injury solicitors Ireland

There are also other time limits to be aware of. For instance, you must notify the party you intend to make a claim against within two months.

Because of the strict time limits involved, we highly recommend early legal advice. At Mullins & Treacy LLP Solicitors, we can pursue a claim on your behalf, ensuring you do not miss the time limits in place.

Contact us now

We are client focused and results driven. If you have had an accident and want to explore the possibility of lodging a personal injury claim, please contact us. We are here to help.

Call us on 051 391 488 or email reception@mullinstreacy.ie for a no obligation enquiry.