'Revolution' in injury claims as court challenges down and compensation up
The Injuries Board said there's been a "cultural revolution" when it comes to injury claims.
In a mid-year review, the body's CEO Patricia Byron said only 2% of personal injury claims ever go to court, and almost all insurers aim to get an early resolution.
75% of claims for the first six months of this year relate to road traffic accidents, while the number of workplace injury claims has fallen.
The review also shows an increase of more than a fifth in the total compensation handed out to claimants in the first half of the year.
The jump to €144m is largely being put down to a time lag between a spike in claims in recent years, and the resolution of those claims.
There has also been a call for insurance companies to provide data on settlements of claims made outside of the statutory process.
The Injuries Board revealed that 18,000 claims are settled each year between claimants and insurers, without recourse to the Injuries Board or the Courts.
"What we're calling for is high-level data to be provided in an aggregate form by the insurance industry, so that we can endure claimants are getting paid where they should be paid, or legal fees are not being paid where they shouldn't be paid," said Mrs Byron.
