The simple answer “No”.
Even where you have a 100% compensation claim (i.e. a case certain to win), there’s no guarantee that you will get any money. There are a variety of reasons for this, but the one we focus on today is – Is the person responsible for your injury insured ?
If they are not, then, the chances of recovering money reduce. Remember, whilst most people will have insurance, it’s not a certainty, nor is it a legal requirement to have insurance, except in the case of motor vehicles that go on the public road – drivers must have insurance, and even if they don’t the Irish Insurance companies will cover the claim through the MIBI.
If there is no insurance, great care is needed in making a decision to proceed against the responsible party. You could get a court award for huge money, but, at the end of the day, the Court Order is merely a piece of paper. It’s not cash, and to convert it to cash may take a long time and a lot of costs.
Think hard before suing an uninsured defendant.
– an advice note on Irish law by Kilkenny based Solicitors Holland Condon
