When you are injured in an accident, you may temporarily or even permanently no longer be able to perform your household tasks. This can range from cleaning to grocery shopping. If someone else is liable for the accident, you are entitled to compensation for the help you hire or receive from neighbors, family, or friends. In this article, we explain how you can claim this compensation and what is involved.
Right to compensation for household help
After an accident for which another party is liable, the opposing party must compensate your personal injury. This compensation is intended to ensure that you remain as much as possible in the same situation as before the accident. If you can no longer perform household tasks yourself, you are entitled to compensation for hiring household help. This also applies when friends, family, or neighbors help you, even when you do not have to pay them. The necessity of the help is what matters, not who provides it.
How is the compensation calculated?
The amount of compensation for household help is determined based on the guidelines of De Letselschade Raad (the Personal Injury Council). This takes into account the degree of limitation due to the injury and the share you had in household tasks before the accident. A percentage of 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% is applied to the compensation, depending on the division of tasks within your household.
Compensation rates in 2024 for household help in personal injury cases:
Mildly to moderately limited
- Single person: €82.00 per week
- Two-person household: €109.00 per week
- Family with children under 5: €205.00 per week
- Family with children over 5: €177.00 per week
Severely limited
- Single person: €165.00 per week
- Two-person household: €218.00 per week
- Family with children under 5: €410.00 per week
- Family with children over 5: €354.00 per week
These amounts apply for the first three months after the accident. After this period, it is reassessed whether you still need help and a compensation of €11.50 per hour may be awarded for a longer period.
Evidence and compensation without receipts
It is not always necessary to hire a professional cleaner to qualify for compensation. Help from friends or family can also be compensated, without you having to provide receipts. The most important thing is that you demonstrate that the help was necessary due to your injury. For the first three months after the accident, a fixed compensation applies, regardless of whether you actually hired someone.
Why engage legal help for personal injury?
With personal injury, it is often difficult to figure out on your own what you are entitled to, especially when it comes to smaller damage categories such as household help. This is often overlooked. By engaging an experienced personal injury lawyer from Arslan Advocaten, you are assured of the maximum compensation you are entitled to. We handle the entire process for you and ensure that all damage categories are compensated. Moreover, our legal costs are free for you, as the liable party must also compensate these costs.
Do you have questions about your right to compensation for household help or would you like us to take on your personal injury case immediately? Contact one of our personal injury lawyers. We are happy to help you, free of charge.