During the first six months of 2013 the total compensation awarded to personal injury claimants increased by 8.3% to €118million, according to a mid-year analysis undertaken by the Injuries Board. Compensation was awarded to 5,286 personal injury claimants, a 2% increase on the number of awards made during the first six months of 2012.
A small number of exceptionally high awards in the period pushed up the average award to €22,349, from €21,502 in 2012. The volume of new claims in the six months to June 2013 increased by 10% albeit this has eased somewhat to 6.7% year to date. A higher volume of motor claims, typically of lower value, contributed to this increase.
Key statistics for the six months from January to June 2013 are as follows:
Road traffic accidents continued to account for the majority of personal injury claims and represented over three quarters (75.5%) of awards. 16.4% of awards were for accidents in public places, 8.1% related to workplace accidents.
The average award was €22,349, compared to the overall average for 2012 of €21,502.
Processing costs dropped from 9% to 8% of the overall value of awards. These costs are a significant factor in maintaining competitive insurance premiums.
Compensation was delivered at an average processing time of 7.4 months in the period.
Claims volumes increased by 10%, but have eased back to 6.7% year to end of August.
Limerick, Longford, Dublin, Louth and Carlow are the five counties with the largest number of awards as a proportion of population.
The five counties with the lowest number of awards per head of population are Kilkenny (injury claims for Kilkenny has been one of the lowest since the Board was established),Roscommon, Laois, Wexford and Wicklow.
– a legal news update by Holland Condon Solicitors Ireland
