Direct option for making compensation claims
Press Release 20th October 2005
PIAB - availability of direct option for making compensation claims
The Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) is the statutory body charged with assessing the compensation entitlement of a person who has suffered a personal injury. Patricia Byron, Chief Executive, speaking today to members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, said "it is very important that victims of personal injury accidents are aware that they may deal directly with PIAB through our Helpline facility, open Mondays to Saturdays between 8 am and 8 pm on LoCall 1890 829 121, or through our website www.piab.ie". She also pointed out that an application basically consists of two documents:
An application form which PIAB can assist in completing, and
A record of medical treatment received to date, to be completed by the injured person's (claimant's) doctor.
"Transparency and clarity for claimants is a key benefit of dealing directly with PIAB" said Ms Byron. "Our Helpline is also available to keep claimants updated during the assessment period which generally takes 9 months or less, as set out in the PIAB Act 2003. There are no oral hearings in the PIAB process."
Providing details on progress and outcomes for claimants to date, Ms Byron told the Committee that:
three out of every four PIAB assessments have been accepted to date
assessments to date have been delivered approximately three times faster and at a delivery charge four times cheaper than litigation
total compensation awarded so far amounts to €3.74m
15,500 applications have been received to date from victims of accidents
5,500 of these claims have either been settled up-front between parties following initial contact with PIAB, or claim papers are being finalised by claimants
the remaining 10,000 claims are moving through the 9 month assessment process.
"We are delivering compensation four times cheaper than under litigation said Ms Byron". This is very significant considering that in 2004, where just under €1 billion approx was paid out in compensation to personal injury victims, litigation costs of over €400 million approx were incurred in getting this compensation to the victims. These costs contributed significantly to the high levels of insurance premia in this country.
The impact on the Courts is already evident with new personal injury case volumes in the High Court dropping from just over to 15,000 in 2004 to just over 400 this year to date.
Ms. Byron concluded by reaffirming the commitment of PIAB to serving its key customers. "We will continue to both provide and improve this service" she concluded.
Ends
Further information contact:
Sorcha Coady
Editors Notes
Personal Injuries Assessment Board Annual Report 2004 (PDF)
An Bord Measúnaithe Díobhálacha Pearsanta Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 2004 (PDF)