How Long Does a Compensation Claim Take

I want to claim compensation for an injury that happened at work but wondered how long does a compensation claim take? I am moving to Australia soon.

Eoin P. Campbell, LL.B., Solicitor

Editor in Chief

Eoin P. Campbell

How long does a compensation claim take has been reduced enormously since the introduction of the Injuries Board Ireland which was established by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) Act of 2003. The average length of time it takes for a claim to be resolved has been decreased from three years to approximately nine months.

Before the establishment of the Injuries Board, there was no definite answer to “how long does a compensation claim take”, as insurance companies tended to drag out proceedings. Since there was a large backlog in cases, the insurance company could expect to delay making any compensation payments for years, and many cases were settled in the court house, minutes before a hearing was due to start.

The Injuries Board has ensured that there is a fixed time limit for insurance companies to negotiate a settlement and they aim to respond to most claims within nine months. Your solicitor can negotiate with the negligent party’s insurance company during this period and there is the possibility that your solicitor could be able to complete a claim at this stage. Even if the Injuries Board makes their assessment, your solicitor will continue negotiations with the insurance company as only a small percentage of all claims are settled for the amount the Injuries Board recommends.

How long does a compensation claim take? As the strong majority of cases are settled between your solicitor and the insurance company while the Injuries Board assess your claim, so a good estimate of the length of time your claim would take to be finalised would be about nine months.