The household help personal injury guideline plays a larger role in many personal injury cases than victims often think. After an accident, everyday tasks such as cleaning, cooking, or grocery shopping are suddenly no longer a given. Yet we see that insurers regularly trivialize this head of damage or even reject it entirely.

In this article, we explain in detail what the household help guideline entails, when you are entitled to compensation, and why many representatives drop out at this point — while we press ahead.

What is household help in personal injury cases?

Household help in personal injury casesconcerns the loss of the ability to perform (parts of) the household yourself as a result of injury. It is not only about paid help, but also about assistance provided by a partner, family, or friends.

Common household tasks are:

• cleaning;
• washing and ironing;
• cooking;
• grocery shopping;
• maintenance work;
• care for children.

What is the household help personal injury guideline?

The household help personal injury guideline is a guideline used within the personal injury practice to determine:

• whether there is a right to compensation;
• how many hours of household help are reasonable;
• what hourly rate may be used.

This guideline is used to structure discussion, but is not a statutory cap.

To whom does the household help guideline apply?

The Household Help Guideline for Personal Injury may apply to:

• victims of traffic accidents;
• victims of workplace accidents;
• victims of medical errors;
• persons with temporary or permanent injury;
• children and adults.

What matters is not whether you had help before the accident, but whether, due to the injury, you can no longer perform tasks.

Paid and unpaid household help

An important misconception is that only paid help qualifies for compensation. That is incorrect.

Even when a partner or family member takes over household tasks, there may be compensable damage. This is also known as informal care damage .

Why insurers often deny household help

In practice, we see that insurers under the household help personal injury guideline often argue that:

• help is “normal within a household”;
• the complaints are not serious enough;
• the assistance should have been temporary;
• the number of hours is too high;
• a lower hourly rate must be applied.

These defenses are by no means always legally tenable.

Household help and medical causation

As with other heads of damage, here medical causation plays a role. Insurers regularly dispute that limitations stem from the accident.

We are not deterred by this. You can read more about this on our page medical causation in personal injury cases.

How is household assistance calculated?

The calculation looks at, among other things:

• the composition of the household;
• the age of the injured person;
• the nature and severity of the injury;
• the duration of the limitations;
• the division of tasks before the accident.

On that basis, the number of hours of household assistance is determined.

Temporary versus permanent household assistance

With temporary injury, it often involves a defined period. With permanent injury, household assistance may be needed for years or even for life.

Especially with permanent impairments, the amounts rise sharply. That makes this category of damages sensitive for insurers.

Household assistance for children

Even with personal injury involving children, household assistance can be relevant. Consider extra efforts by parents or structural adjustments within the family.

This loss is regularly underestimated or ignored.

Where other lawyers give up

Household assistance is seen by some firms as “a minor item of damages”. That is a misconception.

Taken cumulatively, household assistance often represents a substantial loss. Where others go along with minimal amounts, we intervene.

Out of court if possible

We first try to reach a fair compensation out of court. A well-substantiated calculation based on the Household Help Personal Injury Guideline can then be effective.

Litigating when necessary

When insurers keep refusing, we litigate. Think of:

• partial dispute proceedings concerning items of damage;
• proceedings on the merits;
• preliminary expert reports;
• proceedings concerning medical impairments.

It is precisely this willingness to push through that often makes the difference.

Household help and other heads of damage

Household help does not stand alone. It is often connected with:

• loss of earning capacity;
• care costs;
• non-material damage;
• informal care.

You can read more about this on our page loss of earning capacity.

External links (industry context)

In applying guidelines within personal injury practice, reliance is often placed on industry insights and the expertise of, among others, the Dutch Association of Insurers and expert organizations such as the NIVRE.

Does legal assistance cost me money?

In personal injury cases, the costs of legal assistance are in most cases recovered from the liable insurer. Also when proceedings concern household assistance.

Why choose Arslan Advocaten?

We combine in-depth knowledge of personal injury with extensive experience in insurance law. It is precisely in discussions about guidelines that we make the difference.

Where other lawyers give up or settle for minimal amounts, we secure full compensation. Out of court if possible. Through the court if necessary.

Are you unsure whether you are entitled to compensation for household help after personal injury? Feel free to contact us for a substantive assessment.