INJURIESBOARD.IE - PREVIOUSLY PIAB – LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
- TALK OF INSURANCE PREMIUM HIKES 'SURPRISING'
InjuriesBoard.ie is the new web-friendly identity of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board ['PIAB'] which today launched a comprehensive range of new and enhanced services. These include: online applications, (available 24/7), an online claims estimator, multi-lingual services and a health and well-being section to assist recovery following an accident.
Launching the new services the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said: "quality customer service has been at the core of PIAB's work since their start up in 2004. They have delivered significant savings for their customers as well as providing wider societal benefits. This new initiative will enhance their delivery capabilities and add genuine value for consumers".
Commenting, Ms Patricia Byron, Chief Executive, InjuriesBoard.ie said: "Over the last four years PIAB has delivered on its statutory mandate to service all personal injury claims in Ireland. Claims are being processed four times faster and at one fifth of the overhead of the prior adversarial model. The resultant savings of €100million per annum has also driven significant reductions in insurance premiums.
"In addition to the direct savings of €40million, the Board estimates that the non-adversarial model delivers a further €40 million in indirect cost savings to insurers. Taken together with the increased focus on safety, accident prevention and enforcement initiatives, insurers are benefitting to the tune of well over €100million annually. In this context, recent soundings from the insurance industry regarding premium hikes seem somewhat surprising.
"Under our new brand, InjuriesBoard.ie, we aim to increase public awareness and accessibility and to widen the focus to both compensation and effective recovery. By accommodating online applications from the comfort of a claimant's home, our online service enables injured parties or anyone requiring information to do so within a sensitive and confidential environment" Ms Byron added.
The new brand and enhanced services will be supported by a national advertising campaign, including TV, radio, press and online. Key components of the enhanced service include:
- The launch of a more user friendly brand - InjuriesBoard.ie - that aids consumer recall and works in an online environment
- Improved online information and access at www.injuriesboard.ie, including:
- Online applications (24/7) to complement existing phone (which operate Monday to Saturday from 8.00am to 8.00pm) and post services
- An online 'claims estimator' which is an online guide to compensation values dependent on the nature and extent of an injury - Enhanced services to better meet the needs of an increasingly multi-ethnic population
- Multi lingual guides and assistance (Irish, English, Polish, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin) and Arabic) - Value added services
- Advice on health and well-being aimed at assisting recovery and rehabilitation
- Designated web pages for the medical community
"We see this process as a natural evolution for the Injuries Board" said Patricia Byron. "Over the past four years we focused on delivering on our mandate to process all personal injury claims in the country. Our announcement today, as InjuriesBoard.ie, underpins our commitment to serve those injured parties and those responding to claims. Claims can be processed through our original post and telephone services in addition to the new online portal. The Board deals with all workplace, road traffic and other accidents occurring in public places. Responding to changing consumer patterns the Board has now extended its access to the public through the additional 24/7 online gateway."
Established in mid 2004, InjuriesBoard.ie (previously known as PIAB), processes personal injury claims more efficiently than the prior adversarial system with the following advantages:
Same award levels as the Courts |
Four times faster |
70% lower delivery cost |
Freeing up the Courts |
Lower Insurance premiums |
Self financing |
Ends.
Date 19 June 2008
For Further Information
Sorcha Coady 01 463 4551 / 086 803 2926
Note for Editors: