Road Traffic Law falls under two main areas;
1. Prosecutions
Driving offences in Ireland are set out in the Road Traffic Acts 1961 (as amended). There is a range of offenses and the penalties also depend on such. There is a penalty point system in Ireland with other penalites, from fines to imprisonment, also in place.
In terms of road traffic offenses, they include but are not limited to:
- Drink Driving Offences
- Drug Driving Offences
- No Insurance Offences
- Careless Driving
- Dangerous Driving
2. Accidents
Road traffic accidents can be an all too common sight on Ireland's roads.
The cause of these accidents is extremely varied, from reckless driving to freak accidents and narrow roads. Regardless of the cause, if someone gets involved in such an accident, he must do certain things according to the road traffic accident laws.
If you've been injured as a result of a road traffic accident that wasn't your fault, then please visit the different pages on our personal injury page of our website.
Road traffic accident laws in Ireland
Here are the legal actions as per the road traffic accident laws when an accident occurs:
1. Stay at the scene: The person must stop and stay at the scene of the accident for a reasonable time.
2. Provide information: If a Garda is present at the scene of the collision, they must provide the following details when requested:
- Their name and address.
- The address where their car is kept.
- The car owner's name and address.
- The car's registration number.
- Motor insurance details.
However, if there is no Garda present, they must give the above information on request to:
- The injured person or a person is asking on their behalf.
- The owner who has suffered property loss or someone is asking on their behalf.
3. Report the accident: In the absence of a Garda, the accident must be reported as soon as possible to a Garda who is nearby or at a Garda station.
What to do after an accident?
Given below are some things you need to do if you get involved in an accident:
- Move the damaged vehicles carefully. If the collision is serious, don't move them on your own.
- Try to warn others of oncoming traffic of the accident to avoid further collisions.
- If someone is injured, call the Gardaí and ambulance.
- Obtain the information listed above according to road traffic accident laws.
- Take photos of the scene of the collision or the vehicles before they are moved.
- Obtain the name or number of the Garda to whom the collision is reported.
- Write down an account of all relevant facts connected to the collision as soon as possible.
- Contact a solicitor for representation and consultation.
How can solicitors help after an accident?
Road traffic accident solicitors can help in any accident compensation claims. They can provide legal advice and procedures to be followed if any injury or property loss occurs. In case of a Hit and Run or an Uninsured driver, a personal injury claim can be made against the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland with a solicitor's help.
When involved in motor accidents, it is always recommended to follow road traffic accident laws to avoid further losses. Getting correct legal advice from a trusted solicitor is the best way to deal with such situations. A solicitor can help you get the rightful claim or deal with a claim efficiently.
Contact Keenan & Company and arrange a consultation with qualified solicitors to discuss any legal issue that you’re currently facing.