Solicitor fees for personal injury claims in Ireland vary between firms and depend on the work agreed. For the Injuries Resolution Board stage, Lalloo Solicitors charges a fixed professional fee of €1,845 including VAT (€1,500 plus VAT at 23%) for the services listed on this page. The fee is payable when the Board process concludes, under written fee terms provided before work begins.
| Professional fee | €1,845 including VAT (€1,500 plus VAT at 23%) |
|---|---|
| What it covers | The listed professional services for the Injuries Resolution Board stage |
| When it is payable | When the Board process concludes, under written fee terms provided before work begins |
| Paid separately at the outset | Your treating doctor’s medical-report fee and the Board’s application fee. The Board may allow all or part of these costs as fees or expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred. |
| Not included | Court proceedings and work outside the listed Board-stage scope; any additional work must be agreed separately in writing before it is undertaken |
What is the Injuries Resolution Board?
The Injuries Resolution Board, formerly the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), also operated under the working name InjuriesBoard.ie. It is the independent statutory body that assesses personal injury claims within its remit.
Most personal-injury claims within the Board’s statutory remit must first be submitted to the Board, and an authorisation obtained, before court proceedings can be brought. Medical-negligence and certain other claims are excluded. The Board must have regard to the Personal Injuries Guidelines adopted by the Judicial Council when assessing general damages. Documented financial losses are considered separately.
What the fixed solicitor fee covers
The €1,845 fee applies to the following professional services during the Injuries Resolution Board stage:
- An initial consultation and advice on the claim, including how the Personal Injuries Guidelines may apply to the injuries described.
- Preparing the application to the Injuries Resolution Board and submitting it with the supporting documents required by the Board.
- Requesting the medical report from the treating doctor and reviewing it before submission.
- Preparing a schedule of documented out-of-pocket losses with the client.
- Correspondence with the Board and, during the Board process, with the respondent or insurer.
- Advice on the assessment when it issues and on the available options.
- If an assessment becomes binding on both parties, completing the formalities through to the order to pay.
The fixed fee does not change with the number of hours spent on work within this scope or with the value of the claim. Work outside the scope listed above is not included and, if required, will be separately agreed in writing before it is undertaken.
Costs paid separately
These costs are not part of Lalloo Solicitors’ €1,845 fixed professional fee. The medical-report cost may, however, be allowed separately by the Injuries Resolution Board as explained below.
The Injuries Board application fee
The Board’s current application fee is €45 for an online application, including an application submitted through the Solicitors Portal. The fee is €90 for an application submitted by email or post. This is the Board’s fee and is paid separately by the client. Current rates are published by the Injuries Resolution Board.
Court proceedings and work outside the Board stage
Court proceedings are a separate stage with separate costs and costs risk. They can become relevant where the Board issues an authorisation, including following an express refusal to consent to assessment or rejection of an assessment. If a court stage or other work outside the listed scope is considered, the work and charging basis will be agreed separately in writing before it is undertaken. No outcome can be promised at any stage.
When and how the €1,845 fee is paid
On receiving instructions, the client receives a written costs notice in clear language under section 150 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. The written terms identify the €1,845 professional fee, the services covered, the separate outlays and the agreed payment timing. The fixed professional fee becomes payable when the Board process concludes.
If compensation or other money is payable to the client, an amount for legal costs may be deducted from it only where the client has given prior written agreement. The fee is a fixed amount and is not calculated by reference to the amount of compensation.
Legal costs — required information. In contentious business, a legal practitioner may not charge legal costs expressed as a specified percentage or proportion of damages or other moneys that may be or become payable to the client. A legal practitioner may not, without the client’s prior written agreement, deduct or appropriate any amount in respect of legal costs from damages or other moneys payable to the client. Section 149, Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.
Why the fee is published
Publishing the figure allows a reader to distinguish the professional fee for the listed Board-stage services from the separate medical-report and Board application fees, and from any later court work. The fixed figure is confirmed in the written fee terms before work begins.
Frequently asked questions about personal injury solicitor fees
Straight answers to the questions clients most often ask about the Board-stage fee and separate expenses.
How much are solicitor fees for a personal injury claim in Ireland?
Fees and charging arrangements vary between firms and depend on the agreed work. Lalloo Solicitors charges €1,845 including VAT for the Injuries Resolution Board services listed on this page. The treating doctor’s medical-report fee and the Board’s application fee are paid separately.
What does the fixed €1,845 fee include?
It includes the listed professional work from initial advice and preparation of the Board application through correspondence, review of the assessment and advice on the available options. If an assessment becomes binding on both parties, it also includes completing the Board formalities through to the order to pay.
Will I get the medical-report fee back?
You pay your treating doctor first. The Injuries Resolution Board may allow all or part of the reasonable report cost as a fee or expense reasonably and necessarily incurred. If the assessment is accepted by both sides, any amount allowed is payable by the respondent in addition to compensation. The Board decides the amount, so full repayment cannot be guaranteed.
Do I need a solicitor for an Injuries Resolution Board claim?
No. A claimant may apply to the Board directly. A solicitor can provide independent advice, prepare and manage the application and medical evidence, help document financial losses and advise on the assessment and available options.
When is the €1,845 solicitor fee payable?
The fixed professional fee becomes payable when the Injuries Resolution Board process concludes. The payment terms are provided in writing before work begins.
Can the solicitor fee be deducted from compensation?
Only where the client has given prior written agreement. Section 149 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 requires prior written agreement before a legal practitioner deducts or appropriates legal costs from damages or other money payable to the client.
What is the Injuries Board application fee?
It is currently €45 for an online application, including one submitted through the Solicitors Portal, and €90 for an application submitted by email or post. The application fee is charged by the Board and paid separately by the client.
What happens if a claim goes beyond the Board?
Court proceedings are outside the fixed-fee scope on this page. Any court-stage work and charging basis must be agreed separately in writing before that work is undertaken. Court proceedings involve costs risk, and no outcome can be promised.
How long does an Injuries Resolution Board assessment take?
The Board states that assessment takes nine months in most cases, measured from the date it receives the respondent’s consent to assessment. The statutory period can be extended in specified circumstances, and the overall timeline also depends on matters such as the availability of medical evidence.
Lalloo Solicitors contact details
For a confidential discussion about the Injuries Resolution Board stage and the written fee terms, contact Lalloo Solicitors.
Lalloo SolicitorsAlexandra House, 3 Ballsbridge Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 C7H2