Personal injury award values continue downward trend

Muireann Duffy

The average amount awarded in personal injury claims is continuing to fall year-on-year, according to figures from the Personal Injury Assessment Board (PIAB).

In its report for 2022, the PIAB stated the average amount awarded during the year was €15,857, down from €19,451 in 2021 and €24,026 in 2020.

The number of claims handled by the board was also down, falling from 31,072 in 2019 to 18,453 in 2022, marking a 41 per cent decrease.

Last year, €141 million was paid out in respect of personal injury actions, continuing the downward trend noted in the last number of years.

The overall award value for 2022 was almost half of that paid out in 2019, when the amount totalled €275 million.

Awards for 'general damages', which takes into account the pain and suffering caused to the injured party, fell by 41 per cent on average, while the PIAB said €40 million was saved by avoiding litigation.

As with past years, motor liability – personal injury actions arising out of incidents involving vehicles – made up the majority of those handled by the PIAB. In 2022, motor liability represented 65 per cent of actions, followed by public liability (20 per cent) and employers liability (15 per cent).

Average awards were highest in employer liability cases, at €22,989, followed by public liability (€16,833), and then motor liability (€13,975).

The report noted that following the introduction of new guidelines around personal injury awards, acceptance rates had fallen to 36 per cent in December 2020, but had almost returned to pre-guideline levels by the end of 2022, at 48 per cent in November of that year.

The figures showed consent rates for personal injury awards are also continuing to rise, jumping from 55 per cent in 2020 to 70 per cent last year.