Practitioners defend record €315m payout by Injuries Board in 2016

The Personal Injuries Assessment Board paid out a record €315 million in compensation claims last year, figures show.

There were a total of 12,966 awards last year, an increase of 10.5 per cent and the highest level in the PIAB’s 13-year history.

However, personal injury practitioners have warned that policymakers should focus on reducing injuries than reducing awards.

Jody Cantillon, associate solicitor at Cantillons Solicitors in Cork, told Irish Legal News: “Once again, I am disappointed by the level of hysteria which certain news agencies attach to the issue of compensation awards in personal injuries matters.”

Mr Cantillon said payouts of €315 million in compensation awards last year “means that €315 million worth of unnecessary damage has been caused”.

He said: “Focus should not be on reducing the amount paid to the victims but upon preventing such unnecessary damage in the future.

“This figure represents sums which have been accepted by Insurance Companies. They are not being ordered to pay these sums. No one has a gun to their head.

“The Injuries Board suggest a figure to both parties, based on the injuries sustained and the Book of Quantum. Either party, if they are not happy with the figure, can reject the figure.

“If the insurance industry are concerned about these figures, then they should reject them.”

He said there needed to be research on “whether the compensation awarded to the claimant is adequate to cover their injuries”.