A drink driver accident claim seeks compensation for a personal injury in a road traffic accident involving a drunk driver. 

You may be knocked down by a drunk driver, in another car hit by a car driven by a drunk driver or injured in a car accident when the driver was drunk. You may be able to claim personal injury compensation for the impact of the drink driver accident on your life.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors in Dublin can make the drink driver accident claim for you and get you compensation for the personal injury in a road traffic accident.

Table of contents

What is a drink driver accident claim?

A drink driver accident claim is the legal process you take to get compensation for the broken leg, the burn injuries, the cuts and bruises and the trauma of being in a road traffic accident that was not your fault.

Nearly 35% of all fatal road traffic accidents in Ireland involve drink driving. Around 12% of regular drivers admit to drink driving, which is almost 1 in 8 of all drivers on the road. Drivers who are driving after taking a drink are 17 times more likely to be involved in a collision, even at the low level in Ireland of 50mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.  

A claim against a drink driver for personal injury compensation is for the suffering, pain, loss of income and the effects on your life today and in the future.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors in Dublin can make your drink driving personal injury compensation claim*.

Are You Eligible For Compensation?

If you want to obtain compensation for the negligence you have suffered contact us today.

Common personal injury claims* for drink driving

Common personal injury claims* for drink driving in Ireland range from internal organ damage to the multiple broken ribs when hit by a drunk driver on the road at night.

You make the personal injury claim* for the impact on your life today and in the future.

Types of common drink driving road traffic accident claims:

Pedestrian drink driving road traffic accident claims are when you are hit by a drunk driver while on the road or the footpath.

Types of claims by pedestrians:

  • Pedestrian injured by a drink driver who mounted the pavement in town
  • Pedestrian injured by a drink driver who failed to stop at a junction
  • Pedestrian injured by a drink driver while exercising on the open road

O’Brien & Company Solicitors in Dublin can work with you if you are injured by a driver drink driving in Ireland.

The driver drink driving road traffic accident claims are for when the car you are driving is in an accident with another car whose driver has been drinking.

Types of claims for drivers injured by another drunk driver:

  • Driver injured when in a head-on collision with a drunk driver
  • Driver injured when hit by a drunk driver at the roundabout
  • Driver injured when hit by a drunk driver coming out of a side road

You can make a personal injury claim* for the injuries suffered in a drink-driving road traffic accident.

A passenger is often the one who suffers very serious injuries when involved in a drink driving road traffic accident.

The passenger in a car hit by a drunk driver coming out of a side road or who does not stop at a junction can be hit full on and suffer multiple severe injuries.

A passenger in a car being driven by a drunk driver, such as a taxi driver, can be unaware that the person has been drinking and suffer injuries when the car crashes.

O’Brien & Company, personal injury solicitors in Dublin, will work with you when injured by a drink driver.

A cyclist is very exposed on the road and will suffer serious injury when hit by a driver who has been drinking in Ireland.

Types of cyclist drink driving accident claims:

  • Cyclist suffers head injury when knocked off bike by a drunk driver
  • Motorcyclist suffers a broken leg when hit by a drunk driver 
  • Cyclist hit by a drunk driver who did not stop at the traffic lights

A cyclist injured when hit by a drunk driver can make a personal injury compensation claim*.

A child injured by a drunk driver involved in a road traffic accident can suffer severe injuries that could affect them for life.

A child who is a passenger in a car or school bus involved in an accident when the driver has been drinking can suffer head injuries, back injuries and could be scarred for life.

A child knocked down on their way home from school by a drink driver can have broken bones, facial injuries and other types of personal injuries.

The parents and guardians can make a personal injury claim* on behalf of a child injured in a drink driver road traffic accident.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors in Dublin has the experienced team to make a personal injury compensation claim* for those injured in a drink driver road traffic accident.

Compensation in a Drink Driver Accident Claim in Ireland

Compensation in a drink driver accident claim in Ireland is to cover your costs and losses, as well as for the pain and other effects on your life of the injuries sustained.

There is not one fixed amount of compensation for personal injury following a road traffic accident, and you seek compensation for your losses, known as damages, in a claim.

In Ireland, a personal injury compensation claim* combines two types of damages. 

What are damages in a road traffic accident claim?

Damages in a road traffic accident claim in Ireland are:

General Damages are compensation for the Loss of Amenity in your life. A loss of amenity can be seen in a difficulty walking, exercising, or getting to work. 

You can also claim for the pain and suffering experienced due to a breach of the duty of care owed to you by another road user.

Special Damages are for the extra costs in your life due to the personal injury caused by the other road user, such as:

  • Medical costs
  • Loss of earnings
  • Travel costs 
  • Cost of care
  • Further treatment costs
  • Cost of aids and equipment 

A claim seeks compensation for the two types of damages due to a road traffic accident.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors can explain all costs and compensation calculations in a personal injury compensation claim*.

Making a road traffic accident claim against a hit-and-run or uninsured drink driver

You can make a road traffic accident claim when it involves a hit-and-run drink driver or an uninsured drink driver.

The Gardai will be involved, which is a big help when proving who is liable for the injury suffered in the road traffic accident claim.

You make a claim to the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland. The MIBI established a fund to finance hit-and-run and uninsured driver claims in Ireland, and you can claim against it when in an accident involving a drink driver.

The MIBI recognised the need to cover compensation claims against uninsured drivers and those who do not stop following a road traffic accident in Ireland. Under government legislation, the fund is financed by a levy on insurance policies. It is there to help those who suffer a personal injury in a hit-and-run accident or where a drink driver is uninsured.

Your personal injury solicitor will know how to claim against the MIBI fund. You will not be alone, and the MIBI has many years of experience handling claims from the people injured in accidents involving uninsured drunk drivers.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors in Dublin know how to work with the MIBI and to get road traffic accident compensation.

How can a personal injury solicitor help with a drink driver accident claim?

A personal injury solicitor will help with a drink driver accident claim by guiding you through the process.

Making a personal injury compensation claim* can be challenging, but with the right solicitor by your side, you can get the compensation you deserve.

The right personal injury solicitor will be with you to:

  • Help form the claim for a personal injury
  • Help gather the best evidence for a compensation claim
  • Gather the medical experts needed to prove an injury claim
  • Make a claim to the Injuries Board for a personal injury
  • Make a claim when the drink driver is uninsured or did not stop at the scene
  • Advise you on compensation and when to accept an offer
  • Take a claim to court if necessary

The best solicitor for a personal injury claim* will be one you can trust, and one who has the experience in forming a claim and taking it to the Injuries Board.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors in Dublin can be with you from day one when making a drink driver accident claim for compensation.

 

Make a drink driver road traffic accident claim today

Make a drink driver road traffic accident claim today by contacting O’Brien & Company personal injury solicitors in Dublin.

We have the experience in personal injury compensation and can fight your claim to get the compensation for an accident that was not wholly your fault. 

O’Brien & Company Solicitors have the team in place to handle your compensation claim and will be with you at every step of the process.

Contact O’Brien & Company Solicitors to make your drink driver road traffic accident claim today.

Drink Driver Road Traffic Accident Claims FAQs

No, you do not need a personal injury solicitor to make a drink driver accident claim, but having one on your side can make all the difference.

A good personal injury solicitor will have the experience to make a successful claim and will be by your side throughout the claims process.

Anyone injured in a road traffic accident that was not their fault can make a compensation claim. 

Dependents can claim for a loved one injured in a drink driver road traffic accident who is unable to make the claim for personal injury compensation themselves.

The dependents in a personal injury claim* in Ireland may be:

  • The husband or wife of the victim 
  • The parents of the injured party
  • Grandparents of the injured person
  • Children of the injured person
  • Adult dependents 
  • Family members who rely on the victim for care and financial support
  • A sister or brother 
  • A half-brother or half-sister of the injured person

O’Brien & Company Solicitors in Dublin can talk you through how to make a personal injury claim* for someone who cannot make a drink driver accident claim on their own.

You have two years to make a drink driver road traffic accident claim under Irish law. The two years only begin from the date you realise that your injury is due to being in the accident on the road.

Your solicitor will help with getting your claim made within the two-year limit.

No, you do not have to go to court with a drink driver road traffic accident claim. In some cases, you may need to go to court, such as when the driver disputes the claim or when you are not offered sufficient compensation.

Your personal injury solicitor will advise you on when to go to court and can bring the court case on your behalf.

Road traffic accident claims can take up to two years, depending on the evidence and how quickly the other driver admits to causing your injury. When the claim involves a drink driver, you may have to wait for the prosecution to go through the courts.

In some cases, the driver and their insurance company will dispute your claim, but having good evidence and a good personal injury solicitor can make all the difference.

The Injuries Board in Ireland is a statutory body established by the government to handle all personal injury claims*, except medical negligence claims.

All personal injury claims*, including those following a road traffic accident, must go through the Injuries Board.

Your personal injury solicitor will make the claim to the Injuries Board for you.

Contact us now
in confidence.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors has a wealth of experience and a history of success in personal injury and medical negligence cases.

We pride ourselves on achieving the best results for our clients whilst at the same time making everything as straightforward and clear for you as possible.