Personal Injury

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a defendant in medical negligence proceedings which sought to compel the plaintiff to deliver expert reports. The defendant argued that the plaintiff had not properly particularised her claims of negligence and that the expert reports were necessary for

Belfast-based Paschal O'Hare Solicitors has announced the opening of its third office, located in Glengormley, Newtownabbey. The personal injury specialist firm, founded in 1969, now has offices in Belfast city centre, Carrickfergus and Glengormley, which are used to meet with clients from across No

The personal injury discount rate in Northern Ireland has been set to -1.5 per cent following the first review under the new legislative framework established this year. The review, which has been welcomed by personal injury lawyers, was carried out by the government actuary under the methodology pr

The High Court has awarded €8,500 for injuries sustained to a child after he was cut by a ceiling fan after his father lifted him up. The child received a small but permanent scar behind his ear. The father claimed that he had twice complained to hotel staff about the low ceiling fan but was no

A change in the law to require court approval of all children's compensation claims in Northern Ireland has been backed by an overwhelming majority of responses to a Department of Justice consultation.

The High Court has rejected a submission that judges who voted on the new Personal Injuries Guidelines should be recused from hearing a legal challenge to those Guidelines. The applicant brought judicial review proceedings seeking to challenge the adoption by the Judicial Council of the Guidelines o

The High Court has accepted a proposed settlement of €32,500 for a boy who lost the tip of his little finger while ice skating. In so ruling, the court held that the offer was appropriate in circumstances where there was a “real likelihood that the personal injuries claim would be dismiss

Plans to enhance and reform the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) in a bid to encourage more claimants and respondents to use it have been given the go-ahead by ministers. The government has approved the general scheme of the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill and has now given the gree

The High Court has refused an application to dismiss a plaintiff’s personal injuries action on the grounds that it was bound to fail. The defendants argued that the plaintiff could not succeed because she had signed a waiver agreement which waived any right of action against the defendants. Ho

The setting of a new personal injury discount rate (PIDR) for Northern Ireland could be jeopardised by the possible collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly, an insurance law expert has warned. The Damages (Return on Investment) Bill, which introduces a statutory methodology for calculating the dis

A new personal injury discount rate will be set early next year following the passing of new legislation. The Damages (Return on Investment) Bill completed its final stage in Stormont yesterday and is expected to receive royal assent before the end of January 2022, after which a new rate will be set

Jason O'Sullivan, solicitor and public affairs consultant at J.O.S Solicitors, calls on Irish insurers to make good on their promises to lower premiums. The lobbying and public affairs industry in Ireland plays an important role in helping to shape public policy and legislative agendas. It is an imp

Personal injury lawyers have called on the Irish government to establish a statutory compensation scheme for vaccine-related injuries. An expert group chaired by Mr Justice Charles Meenan recommended in December 2020 that the government establish a vaccine compensation scheme "as a matter of urgency

Motor insurance premiums fell by seven per cent last year in the last full year before the introduction of new personal injury guidelines, according to new figures. The Central Bank's third National Claims Information Database (NCID) report on private motor insurance reveals that the average earned

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal brought by a personal injuries plaintiff who argued that he did not need a Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) authorisation in order to institute the proceedings. The plaintiff alleged that he was injured from a defective hip replacement and the High