Back to postA Guide To The Personal Injury Guidelines
Posted in [Blog Personal Injury Litigation ] on Monday, September 6th, 2021
In April 2021, new Personal Injury Guidelines were published by the Judicial Council. The Guidelines will replace the Book of Quantum for all cases commenced after the 24th April, 2021.
While not all of the Judicial Council were in favour of the new the Guidelines, the majority of the Council voted to implement them.
1. What are the Personal Injury Guidelines?
The Personal Injury Guidelines aim to improve the consistency of awards given in personal injury claim cases in Ireland. As of the 24th April, 2021, the assessment of awards of damages for the majority of personal injuries will be set by these guidelines. If Court proceedings were issued before this date, then the new Personal Injury Guidelines may not apply.
The Personal Injury Guidelines were preceded by the Book of Quantum. Though similar in some ways to the Book of Quantum in terms of categories of injury etc., the Personal Injury Guidelines are more detailed and specific.
2. Why were the new Personal Injury Guidelines introduced?
The Personal Injury Guidelines aim to prevent the perceived disparity between awards given in different cases where the injuries are deemed similar. It is also hoped that the Personal Injury Guidelines will result in lower insurance costs. The reality of that desire remains to be seen.
3. How do the Personal Injury Guidelines work?
The Guidelines are a consultative tool for Judges to assist them in their decisions on the quantum of damages to award in personal injuries claims. The new Guidelines offer a more detailed direction for all Judges and parties involved. Personal injuries are divided into categories with a guide as to the amount of compensation to be applied to each such personal injury.
A Judge still has discretion to depart from the Personal Injury Guidelines and award more or less than the amount of compensation suggested in the Guidelines.
New categories have also been added to the Personal Injury Guidelines, expanding on the categories found in the Book of Quantum. The new categories include psychiatric injuries, which were not included in the Book of Quantum.
The Guidelines also contain guidance on how to consider the amount of compensation to be awarded for injuries where claimants have pre-existing conditions or in cases where claimants have multiple injuries. For example, for pre-existing conditions, Judges will consider the extent and duration of the aggravation of the pre-existing condition. For multiple injury cases, the Guidelines dictate that the most severe injury should be identified.
Like the Book of Quantum, the Personal Injury Guidelines will be re-assessed every three years.
4. Do the new Personal Injury Guidelines mean lower compensation amounts for personal injury claims?
Not necessarily. While it is believed that, for example, the amount of compensation for a whiplash injury has decreased, the amount to be awarded other categories of injury have increased. Further, as stated above, a Judge still has discretion to depart from the Personal Injury Guidelines and award more (or less) than the amount of compensation suggested in the Guidelines. It is also important to note that each case is different and the impact of an injury on each claimant is different.
The Guidelines require that the Judge consult with the parties involved at the end of each trial as to which are the dominant and most severe injuries and which, in the parties view, is the appropriate category on which to base the award of damages.
5. What do the Personal Injury Guidelines cover?
The Personal Injuries Guidelines include a very detailed breakdown of injury types, including, but not limited to:
- Injuries resulting in foreshortened life expectancy;
- Injuries involving paralysis including quadriplegia, paraplegia;
- Head injuries including brain damage, minor head injuries, established epilepsy and other epileptic conditions;
- Psychiatric damage including severe to moderate damage and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD);
- Injuries affecting the senses including injuries affecting sight, hearing, taste and smell;
- Injuries to internal organs including chest injuries, lung disease, asthma and other respiratory conditions, digestive system, male/female reproductive system, kidney, bowel, bladder, spleen, hernia;
- Orthopaedic injuries including, but not limited to, neck injuries, back injuries, pelvis and hips, shoulder injuries, amputation of an arm, other arm injuries, injuries to the elbow, wrist injuries, hand injuries and injuries to thumb and fingers, thumb injuries, vibration white finger (VWF) and/or hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), other upper limb disorders;
- Chronic pain including CPRS and other pain issues;
- Facial Injuries including disfigurement
- Damage to teeth;
- Scarring and burns;
- Damage to hair;
- Dermatitis and other skin conditions including dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.
If you are looking for a personal injury Solicitor, please contact Cantillons Solicitors using the contact form below, Our office is located at 39 South Mall, Cork.
Contact us at Cantillons Solicitors at Cork +353 (0)21 4275673 or Dublin +353 (0)1 264 1802 or email info@cantillons.com if you would like more information.
* In contentious business, a Solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. Many Personal Injury Solicitors portray themselves as “no win no fee Solicitors Cork” or “no win no fee Solicitors Dublin”. This term can be misleading and it is essential that you discuss fees with the Medical Negligence Solicitor you ultimately choose. At Cantillons Solicitors, we are entirely transparent
Partner
Experience
Jody is a Partner in our Litigation Department.
Having graduated from University College Cork in 2009, Jody completed his apprenticeship with a top litigation defence firm in Cork City and qualified as a Solicitor in 2014.
Prior to joining Cantillons Solicitors in 2016, Jody worked for a leading Dublin firm, specialising in the area of commercial litigation and dispute resolution. There he gained valuable experience in defending and prosecuting high end, large scale commercial disputes before the Commercial Court.