<\/span><\/h3>\nA \u201cpersonal injuries\u201d action in this context, is one where bodily injury is suffered as a result of negligence, nuisance or breach of duty. A personal injury claim includes any disease, any impairment of physical and mental conditions.<\/p>\n
2004 reforms have changed the time limit for commencement of proceedings in respect of personal injuries to two years from the time that the right to bring the claim \\”accrues\\”.\u00a0 This is extended by certain periods while the case is being considered by the Injuries Board.<\/p>\n
The Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991 reversed the effect of the Supreme Court decision in Hegarty v O\u2019 Loughran in personal injury cases. That case may still apply outside of personal injury cases.<\/em> The Supreme Court had followed earlier House of Lord\u2019s cases, which were later reversed. Discoverability applies generally in England and Wales, by statute. The Irish Supreme Court confirmed in 2011, that apart from statute a discoverability test does not apply in negligence or other breach of duty cases.<\/p>\nThe 1991 Act introduced a \\’date of knowledge\\’ test in relation to personal injuries cases.\u00a0 The right of action may be taken within two years\u00a0 of the date on which the action accrued or the date on which the claimant\u2019s knowledge if the claimant does not know or have the means of knowledge of the claim that it has accrued. The legislation was re-enacted with amendments in 2015.<\/p>\n
Claims\u00a0 for \u00a0damages in respect of personal injuries to a person caused by negligence, nuisance or breach of duty (whether the duty exists by virtue of a contract or of a provision made by or under a statute or independently of any contract or any such provision) shall not be brought after the expiration of 2 years, from the date on which the cause of action accrued or the date of knowledge (if later) of the person injured\u201d,<\/p>\n
The period from the date when the claimant \u00a0ceased to be under a disability or died, whichever event first occurred, is 2 years from the date when he ceased to be under a disability or died, whichever event first occurred,<\/p>\n
<\/span>Personal Injuries Claim<\/span><\/h3>\nIf any element of the claim relates to personal injuries, then the whole claim is now subject to a two-year time limit under the 2004 legislation.\u00a0 A claim outside this period may be permitted, only if the personal injuries element is abandoned entirely.\u00a0 There are different views on the extent to which this may be done and to which pleadings may be amended to facilitate the same.<\/p>\n
Where the personal injuries claim is based on a breach of contract, which generally carries a six-year limitation period, this basis of claim may not be used as a substituted ground, if the claim is in substance, a claim for personal injuries based on negligence.<\/p>\n
In accordance with general principles, a cause of action or claim accrues when a significant or nontrivial amount of damage is manifest.\u00a0 The general position (other than in personal injury cases) is that the cause of action may accrue, even though the prospective claimant is unaware of it and could not reasonably know or discover it.<\/p>\n
Where the claim is based on trespass such a deliberate assault, a six-year time limit may apply. However, the date of knowledge test applies only to a claim based on negligence.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Clinical Negligence (Not\u00a0 Commenced)<\/span><\/h3>\nThe Legal Services Regulatory Act 2015 reinstates the pre-2004 Act limitations time periods for clinical negligence actions (as defined) from two years to three years. However, the relevant provision have not been commenced.<\/p>\n
The period will remain at two years for injuries caused by negligence, nuisance or a person\u2019s breach of duty, for example, most road traffic accidents.<\/p>\n
Clinical negligence means anything done or omitted to be done in the provision of a health service by a health service provider in circumstances which could give rise to liability for damages for negligence in respect of personal injury or death. A\u00a0clinical negligence action\u2019 means an action for the recovery of damages brought\u00a0by or on behalf of a person alleging that he or she, or a deceased person of whom he or she is a personal representative, has suffered personal injury or death as a result of clinical negligence, and\u00a0against the health service provider alleged to have committed the act or omission giving rise to liability or any other person alleged to be liable in respect of that act or omission;<\/p>\n
In this context \u2018health service\u2019 means\u2014<\/p>\n