Mirela was driving through Galway city centre on an ordinary afternoon when another car hit her from behind at traffic lights. The impact wasn't gentle – it threw her forward, and her neck and back hurt straight away. The other driver's insurance company got in touch quickly, which seemed helpful at first. Within a few weeks, they made an offer: €3,500 for her injuries and a few thousand more for the damage to her car. Mirela thought about accepting it. She wasn't the type to make a fuss, and she just wanted the whole thing to be over.
But something didn't feel right. Her physiotherapy was ongoing, she was still getting headaches, and she'd missed several weeks of work. She talked to a solicitor, who explained that the insurance company's first offer is often far below what a person is actually entitled to. The solicitor reviewed her medical records, her wage loss, and the nature of the accident – a rear-impact collision where she had no chance to brace herself. It turned out the insurer hadn't properly valued her claim.
Armed with proper legal advice and a detailed assessment, the solicitor entered into negotiations on Mirela's behalf. The insurance company initially dug in, but when faced with real evidence of her injuries and losses, they gradually increased their offer. After several rounds of discussion, they settled at €12,800 – more than three times their original figure. Mirela also recovered her solicitor's costs from the other party's insurer, as required by Irish law in these cases.
Mirela learned something valuable: insurance companies make low opening offers as standard practice. Most people don't have the knowledge or confidence to push back. Getting independent legal advice didn't cost her anything extra – the costs came from the losing party. And it made all the difference to her financial recovery and peace of mind.