Personal injury lawyers in Iceland

Personal injury and compensation law deals with claims for damages after accidents and other harmful events: traffic accidents, workplace injuries, falls, injuries in sport and leisure, and medical injuries. It also covers disputes with insurance companies about whether and how much they must pay.

The legal framework

The amount of compensation for personal injury is calculated under the Tort Damages Act No. 50/1993 (skaðabótalög), which sets out how loss of income, permanent disability and pain and suffering are compensated. Insurance claims are governed by the Insurance Contracts Act No. 30/2004, and traffic accidents by the Traffic Act No. 30/2019, under which every vehicle must carry compulsory liability insurance.

How a claim usually works

• The accident is reported to the police, the employer and the insurer, and you receive medical treatment.
• Once your condition is stable, often a year or more after the accident, a medical assessment sets the degree of permanent impairment and disability.
• The lawyer calculates the claim and negotiates with the insurer. If no agreement is reached, the case can go to the Insurance Complaints Committee or to court.

Injuries caused by treatment in the health service are handled under the Patient Insurance Act No. 111/2000 by Icelandic Health Insurance (Sjúkratryggingar Íslands), which also pays certain benefits after workplace accidents.

Costs and time limits

In many insured cases the liable insurer pays a reasonable part of the lawyer's fees, so a first assessment is often low-risk for the injured person. Claims are subject to time limits, generally four years from when you knew about the claim, and the right to insurance compensation can be lost if the insurer is not notified within a year.

More practical steps are explained in what to do after an accident in Iceland and insurance claims in Iceland.

When to contact a personal injury lawyer

Get advice soon after an accident that leaves lasting symptoms, before you accept an offer from an insurer, or if the insurer rejects your claim. Tourists and foreign residents can usually pursue the claim from abroad through an Icelandic lawyer.