The Injuries Board (formerly known as the Personal Injuries Assessment Board)recently published its Annual Review 2013.
By law, personal injury claims must go to the Injuries Board for assessment, regardless of whether the claimant has legal representation or not. There are only a few exceptions.
The board makes awards relating to motor, employer and public liability accidents without the need for litigation.
The highlights of the Annual Review are as follows:-
• Limerick had the largest number of claims (on a per capita basis)
• 10,656 awards were made totalling €243.5 million
• the highest award made was €1.39m
• average award was €22,847
• motor liability claims accounted for 75% of claims (an increase of over 8%)
The average injury award for motor accidents was €21,730, for employer’s liability €28,886 and public liability €25,120.
Of particular interest is that over one third of claimants still continue to reject the awards suggested by the Injuries Board at the end of the process preferring instead to seek higher awards through issuing court proceedings.
The Injuries Board also does not provide for legal costs (savein very limited circumstances) which means if a claimant is to engage a solicitor to protect his/her interest and progress the claim, the solicitors costs will need to be deducted from any Injuries Board award.
It is therefore unsurprising that a large proportion of claimants opt to pursue the matter through the courts where legal costs may be recovered separate to any award of damages. It is not unusual for a claimant to achieve 30-50% more in terms of compensation achieved in an out of court settlement after the Injuries Board process has concluded.
Moloney & Associates, Solicitors, offer a comprehensive personal injuries advice service, assisting our clients in making applications to the Injuries Board and offering advice on the merits and value of claims.
If you would like to discuss a possible claim, be it motor vehicle, a workplace accident or apublic liability claim then please contact us for a no obligation consultation at our offices here in Limerick City.
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