Tag: Personal Injury Claim

Choosing your solicitor – What you need to know!

Picking your personal injury solicitor – what you need to know!

You’ve had an accident and you’ll probably agree it’s one of the most unpleasant things that can happen. ‘And it could so easily have been prevented’…. you’re thinking. People are telling you that you that you may be entitled to a claim. If it’s something that’s never happened to you before, you probably have a hundred questions. You need an experienced personal injury solicitor to make sure you have the best possible chance of a successful claim. Keep these six points in mind when you’re making your choice.

5 considerations when choosing your personal injury lawyer:

  1. Experience – different solicitors may have different areas of expertise. When you have a personal injury case in Ireland, our advice is simple. Choose an Irish personal injury law expert. You don’t want your solicitor to be part of a general practice. You want someone that’s knows the local scene inside out, that have worked with injuriesboard.ie before. You want someone that knows the ropes.
  2. Accreditations – if you were having your appendix removed, would you let your GP do the operation – he is a doctor after all. Of course not – you would only let a specialist surgeon carry out the operation. What should your personal injury claim be any different. Use someone who specialises in Personal Injury cases and does nothing else and has been accredited by Personal Injury organisations like APIL(www.apil), Headway etc..,.
  3. Costs – find out how they structure their costs. If it’s on a no-win, no-fee basis, this may be your best option. But be careful to get a solid outline of all fees and do your research.
  4. How they do business – while it’s accepted that most cases never go to court, you always have to be ready for the possibility of a court date. Your solicitor must show you that they have gone down this route before and been successful.
  5. Their track record – when you sit down with them, ask your personal injury solicitor about how successful they have been. Have they taken on a case like yours before? In simple terms, back a winner and do what they tell you – you’re paying for their expertise after all.
  6. What feeling you get – this is what they call the ‘gut’ test. When you walk out of that door after the meeting, how you feel, what does your gut tell you?. Did they listen to you? A good solicitor will listen more than they talk. They’ll treat you with respect and after the meeting you’ll feel assured and confident. This is often the number one way to choose a personal injury solicitor. Because if you’re not happy they can do the business for you, it will feel like a long and difficult process.

It’s a big decision. At Gary Matthews Solicitors, we’ve been helping people with claims for personal injury for over 25 years.

If you think you might have a claim for compensation, get in touch. We’ll go through all your options and work with you towards a successful outcome.

Make an Enquiry today.

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If you’ve been injured in a public place – what are your options?

Often the subject of rumour, speculation and light-hearted banter, public liability injury law is a complex matter. If you have been injured in a public place and feel that it was something that could have been avoided, you may be entitled to compensation. Whether it’s on a public footpath or in a shop or even if you’ve been bitten or attacked by a dog, you should not have to suffer due to the actions or inaction of others.

Every year in Ireland, many thousands of people are injured as a result of accidents in public and private places. The largest proportion of claims relate to accidents occurring in places such as playgrounds, leisure centres, shops and supermarkets. It is the responsibility of shop owner to ensure that they operate an environment that is safe for the public to go about their daily business, The vast, vast majority of store owners work very hard to make sure theirs is a safe place to shop in. But if for example, you slipped on a poorly maintained surface like a wet floor, talk to us about your options.

Similarly, public places like footpaths or pavements must also be fit for use by those that use them. Many others fall victim to falling masonry and the results of poorly maintained properties. Other common queries we get concern dogs and particularly dog bites. While no one keeps their dog for such purposes, occasionally animal instincts take over and a well behaved family dog can bite an innocent person. If this has happened to you, the dog should not have been allowed behave in such a manner and you may be entitled to compensation.

If you have been involved in an accident in a public place,

Click on this link here to call the office for a no obligation enquiry to speak directly to our team

Alternatively, complete our no obligation online enquiry form to the right & a member of our team will be in contact.

Make an Enquiry today.

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Going to Court: the reality.

Going to court – the very thought of it conjures up nerves for many people. From watching court on our TV screens and cinemas, we think we have a real picture of what goes on there every day.

We’re glad to report that most personal injury claims are settled without setting foot inside a court. But if it turns out that court is the preferred option, we can assure you there is nothing to be concerned about and we’ll be at your side from day one. How does it work?

Which Court?

First of all, it depends where your case is being heard. In Circuit Court cases, your case will be presented in Court by your Barrister. In High Court cases, you will be represented by a Senior Counsel as well as a Barrister (Junior Counsel). A pre-trial consultation takes place with your Counsel either on the day of the trial or within a day or two previously. It’s important to remember that first impressions are important in every walk of life and the courts are no different. You should dress in an appropriate manner for your court appearances.

Where do I get a barrister?

At Gary Matthews Solicitors, we’ll source only the best people to work with and our experienced Barrister will lead you through your evidence. Make sure that you answer all questions as best you can. Try to avoid giving hasty or confused replies. If you are not sure of the answer of any question, you should say so. After the examination by your own Barrister, the Defendant’s Barrister will cross-examine, in an attempt to illicit details from you which may be favourable to the Defendant’s case. You should also expect some questions from the judge but sometimes this may not be the case.

What happens after my court date?

Once your evidence is completed, the evidence of any other witnesses is taken in the same way. In regard to medical evidence, medical practitioners may be in attendance in Court but more usually, their evidence is admitted in the form of medical reports handed into the Judge. When all the witnesses have been heard, and Counsel has made any relevant points to the Court, the Judge usually makes his/her decision there and then, or s/he may adjourn for a short time for consideration or, on occasions, postpone his/her judgement to another day. The judge delivers a decision on liability, and if deciding in favour of the Plaintiff, will make an award of damages as compensation.

Like any working environment, certain procedures and protocol must follow and it’s important that you have an understanding of these. This means there’ll be no surprises for you on the day. We have over 20 years’ experience in personal injury law and if you do go to court, you’ll be in safe hands with Gary Matthews Solicitors.

Click on this link here to call the office for a no obligation enquiry and speak directly to Mr Matthews.

Complete our no obligation online enquiry form by clicking this link www.gary.ie

Enquiry Form

To discuss your claim complete the form below & a member of our team will get back to you.

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