The Irish Injuries Board released its latest report in October 2013. The report found a significant increase in compensation received by personal injury claimants in 2012 .

Injuries Board awards €157m for motor accidents in 2012

From January to July 2013, 5,286 Irish citizens lodged winning claims, which was a 2 percent increase over the same period last year. The average payout increased from €21,502 to €22,349 but that figure is slightly skewed by a single payout of €976,000.

The report also found that a significant rise in the number of minor road injury claims was filed during the year. The report emphasized that there seemed to be a ‘claims culture’ reputation forming in the industry. This phenomenon is not only happening in Ireland, but around the world. People under financial pressure have been known to file some illegitimate claims in recent times.

The report additionally stated that insurer-processing fees have decreased from €850 to €600 per claim. In relation to the sums that successful claimants have received, the processing fees dropped from 9 percent to 8 percent. The Irish counties of Dublin, Carlow, Longford, Louth and Limerick had the highest proportion of payouts during the first six months of the year. An Evolution Legal spokesperson was alarmed by the increase in the number of people filing claims.

From the Injuries Board Archive

Original article appeared here via Irish Injuries Board Releases Latest Report | Jan 17, 2014.