Personal Injuries Guidelines
The Irish Judicial Council’s published quantum framework that replaced the prior Book of Quantum.
What it means in practice.
Used by both the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) and the courts to assess general damages. Substantial recasting of soft-tissue and minor-injury bands compared to the old Book.
The Personal Injuries Guidelines set the typical range of general damages for each type of injury in Ireland. They were adopted by the Judicial Council on 6 March 2021 under section 7 of the Judicial Council Act 2019.
Both the Injuries Resolution Board and the courts must have regard to the Guidelines when valuing a claim, and must explain their reasons when they depart from them. The Guidelines say the most catastrophic injuries attract general damages of in or about €550,000.
Many brackets turn on how long recovery takes. A minor neck injury is valued very differently depending on whether a substantial recovery comes within six months, within a year, or within two years.
How it works, step by step.
| Injury | Guideline range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Most severe brain damage | Up to €550,000 | Personal Injuries Guidelines, Judicial Council |
| Quadriplegia | €400,000 to €550,000 | Personal Injuries Guidelines, Judicial Council |
| Moderate neck injury | €12,000 to €23,000, including protracted soft tissue injuries with continuing vulnerability | Personal Injuries Guidelines, Judicial Council |
| Minor head injury, recovery in two to five years | €12,000 to €25,000 | Personal Injuries Guidelines, Judicial Council |
| Minor head injury, recovery within six months | €500 to €3,000 | Personal Injuries Guidelines, Judicial Council |
A worked example.
Minor neck injuries: the value follows the recovery time
- Substantial recovery within six months
- €500 to €3,000
- Within six months to one year
- €3,000 to €6,000
- Within one to two years
- €6,000 to €12,000
- Moderate: protracted recovery, lasting vulnerability
- €12,000 to €23,000
The same brackets cover short term worsening of an existing condition. Medical evidence of when the claimant substantially recovered is what moves a claim from one bracket to the next.
Personal Injuries Guidelines, Judicial Council (adopted 6 March 2021)