The first thing to do is to report the accident to the relevant authority as soon as possible.
If your injury was as a result of a criminal act, you need to notify the police. This will produce a crime number and is a requirement of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
If your injury was at work, report it to your employer immediately. It should be recorded in an accident book; this is your employer’s legal obligation.
If your accident was a road traffic accident, you will need to contact your insurance company to register the accident with them. You should also inform the police at the time the accident occurs, as this will provide evidence about the circumstances which could turn out to be critical later if there is a dispute over liability.
It is important that you see your GP as early as possible so that you obtain the correct treatment. Early intervention often leads to an earlier recovery, and you are required to mitigate your loss.
It will also provide a contemporaneous record of the accident, and provide useful information on your symptoms and treatment which can be used by other medical professionals, e.g. the person instructed to report on your injuries for the purpose of any personal injury claim.
Don’t worry if symptoms come on a little after the accident. The true extent of whiplash injuries, for example, may not become apparent for a few days.
A personal injury need not necessarily be physical either. It may involve emotional distress. Abuse at work, whether mental or physical, is taken extremely seriously and will be treated with the sensitivity that it deserves.
All your symptoms should be reported to the appropriate medical practitioner.
Legal advice should be sought to verify whether your case is eligible for compensation. You should bear in mind, however, that you only have three years in which to issue court proceedings in respect of any personal injury claim. If you do not issue court proceedings within three years of the date of the accident then your claim will become statute barred and out of time. In respect of claims involving a child then proceedings must be issued three years from the date of their 18th birthday.
