Independent report shows PIAB saves time and money
Press Release 24th January 2007
Independent report shows PIAB saves time and money.
An independent analysis has shown that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) delivers the same level of compensation to accident victims but three times faster and through a delivery system which is four times cheaper than the old litigation route. PIAB Chief Executive Patricia Byron said "This independent analysis confirms PIAB's own internal tracking. The people who benefit most are those who have been unfortunate enough to have been injured at work or on our roads. They are now assured of a cost-effective system which delivers their rightful compensation within nine months without an unnecessary adversarial contest. Historical records show that about 90% of all personal injury cases do not involve any dispute on legal issues and few can justify three or four years tied up in costly litigation."
The Board of the PIAB today (Wednesday) presented the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment with the results of the independent cost benefit analysis that it is required by law to commission.
On presenting the report to the Minister, PIAB Chairperson, Dorothea Dowling said: "In the vast majority of personal injury cases, there is no dispute about the facts so consumers can save time and money by going to PIAB directly. Victims get the same level of awards from the PIAB as they would from the courts as these are taken from the same published guidelines (Book of Quantum). We hope that more and more Claimants will see that they can resolve their issues in this faster and easier way. It is up to people to decide for themselves how they wish to go through a claims process: we hope that this independent analysis of the benefits of using the PIAB will inform their decisions."
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin TD said "This valuable report shows in the clearest terms that the Government was right to establish this new means of resolving personal injuries claims. The resolution of cases through PIAB represents at least an 88% saving compared to the original system.
"This is not just all about time and money. After an accident, the process of pursuing a claim through the courts can be a very burdensome additional trauma. There is no need to go through the adversarial system of the courts when there is no disagreement between the parties. It is less than two years since the PIAB made its first award. Already it has established itself and has proved its worth. This cost benefit analysis conclusively demonstrates how the decision to set up the PIAB has served the public well."
Ends
A full copy of A Cost Benefit Analysis of the PIAB, prepared by VincentHogan is available from the PIAB website www.piab.ie
Sorcha Coady - 01- 4634551, sorcha.coady@piab.ie
Editors notes