Frequently asked questions

It is important to seek the assistance of a lawyer in order to be sure that your right to compensation is fully exercised, that the right result is obtained in the case and that you are not at a disadvantage vis-à-vis the experts at insurance companies. By putting the matter in our hands, we handle communication with insurance companies and other parties related to the case, collection of data and collection of costs.

If you have an accident, it is important to get proper treatment. As the injured party, you are responsible, among other things, for proving the extent of the damage and that the damage can be traced to the accident in question. You are also responsible for limiting your damage, but you do both by taking good care of yourself after the accident, e.g., by consulting a doctor, physiotherapist or other medical professionals. If you have difficulty getting appropriate treatment after the accident, our lawyers can help you with that.

Assessors call for an assessment meeting when it is time to assess the permanent consequences of an accident. This is a confidential meeting with assessors, which is generally divided into two parts, one is an interview and the other is a medical examination. During the assessment meeting, among other things, the previous state of health and the state of the injured party after the accident are discussed and evaluated.

It is necessary to obtain an assessment by expert assessors so that the permanent consequences of an accident can be assessed. Independent evaluators are appointed in consultation with the relevant insurance company or, as the case may be, Sjúkratryggingar Íslands, and they are tasked with preparing a written and reasoned assessment of the consequences of the accident. Assessors are usually expert doctors or lawyers. Their disability assessment is based on the available documents of the case, an interview with the injured party and a medical examination.

Determining the stability point is a medical decision based on the nature of the injury, the facts of the case and the course of events, i.e., when the injured party’s health has stabilized and there is no likelihood of further recovery.

This is compensation for lost earnings as a result of bodily injury. The right to compensation for temporary loss of employment expires when the first of the two time limits arrives, i.e. the injured party started working to a significant extent to the same extent or when the state of health has stabilized (stability point in time).

Compensation for suffering is compensation for the time the injured party is considered ill as a result of the accident. The general rule is that the injured party is considered to be ill if he is unable to work. The period of compensation for suffering generally takes into account when the injured party becomes unable to work and ends when he becomes able to work or when his health condition is deemed to have stabilized. Compensation for suffering takes into account whether the injured party was bedridden, e.g., in a hospital or not.

Damage refers to non-financial damage, e.g., mental distress that an accident can cause. Permanent loss is assessed in points according to the disability committee’s table.

The way compensation is assessed varies. Insurance terms, age and assessment results are among the factors that can determine the total amount compensation. Regarding the settlement of a claim due to a traffic accident is according to the tort law, and then both temporary and permanent consequences are assessed. Other accidents, e.g., leisure accidents, base the calculation of compensation on the insurance contract. We guide our customers in more detail about which types of compensation are considered in each case.

The right to compensation can be lost if nothing is done to pursue case. Therefore, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible.

The general rule is that a compensation claim for bodily injury expires ten years after the injured party received the necessary information about the damage and the person responsible for it or was required to obtain such information. However, special statutes of limitations and notification obligations may apply.

Here are some examples of important deadlines:
In cases that concern insurance, the injured party must often report an accident within a year of becoming aware of its consequences, otherwise he loses any rights due to negligence.

In the case of a traffic accident after January 1, 2020, the general rule is that compensation claims for personal injury expire when ten years have passed since the date of the accident. Other claims are time-barred within four years and at the latest ten years after the accident.

Compensation from patient insurance in connection with research or treatment expires four years after the injured party became or could have become aware of his loss, but no later than ten years after the damage occurred.

If you have had a leisure time accident, a final disability assessment must be available within three years of the accident.

The injured party usually has the right to be reimbursed for expenses incurred, e.g. medical expenses, physical therapy and drug expenses that may be incurred while the case is in process. In some cases, there may be a maximum reimbursement under the insurance policy.

The operation of compensation cases depends on its nature and scope, and data collection can take considerable time. It is generally assumed that the permanent consequences of an accident can only be assessed when a year has passed since the accident. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can follow up on your case. It is also possible to receive payment for damages during the proceedings if the liability is not disputed.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible and report if you believe your injuries were due to an accident. It is good to keep track of the main information about the accident, e.g., where and when it occurred and when medical assistance was first sought. Collect and keep original receipts for all expenses related to the accident, e.g., medical, pharmaceutical, physiotherapy and travel expenses so that it is possible to receive reimbursement for those expenses.

Accident law does not charge a fee unless compensation is collected. The fee is performance-based and therefore depends on the amount of the injured person’s compensation. The first appointment is always free of charge for our customers.

Permanent disability in the sense of the tort law refers to a permanent impairment of the injured party’s ability to earn income due to the consequences of an accident, e.g., reduction in stress capacity or endurance. In this assessment, the physical and mental impairment that the person may have suffered as a result of the accident must first be considered, and then the advantages that the injured party is considered to have had in order to earn income through work that it is reasonable to expect him to do we. It is normal to carry out the assessment by comparing two intended scenarios, i.e. on the one hand, the scenario that can be assumed to have occurred in the employment of the injured party if he had not had the accident under consideration, and on the other hand, the sequence of events that has occurred and may be expected to occur in the future in the employment of the injured party, taking into account the fact that he suffered the bodily injury that is to be evaluated and examined. However, the claimant must be required to limit his losses, especially by rehabilitating himself as much as possible and taking job opportunities that can reasonably be expected of him, even by moving his residence.