PIAB responds to court decision
PIAB Press Release 25th January 2005
PIAB responds to court decision
Patricia Byron, Chief Executive of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) responded to today's judgment of Mr. Justice McMenamin in the case of Declan O'Brien v The Personal Injuries Assessment Board.
Ms. Byron said "this judgment does not affect a significant proportion of the claims currently being handled by PIAB. Many accident victims are successfully dealing directly with PIAB and the first awards are due within the promised 9 month time frame without recourse to litigation and litigation costs."
The judgment today affects those who choose to engage a solicitor; in these cases PIAB have been directed to communicate with solicitors and will do so. However, Ms. Byron emphasises that solicitor costs will not be awarded by PIAB.
"Claimants ultimately have the choice of dealing directly with PIAB or engaging a solicitor with attendant costs.
For those claimants who deal directly with us, the PIAB Lo-Call Helpline 1890 829 121 continues to provide assistance. PIAB will deliver awards at current levels, without recourse to litigation and within a 9 month time frame in the vast majority of cases" said Ms. Byron.
The Personal Injuries Assessment Board was established in April 2004 as part of the Government's Insurance Reform Programme and has been processing claims since June 2004. The PIAB aims to reduce the high cost of legal and other expert fees that have been associated historically with processing personal injury compensation claims. These costs have contributed to high levels of insurance premiums in Ireland.
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