Higher unemployment is likely to lower the number of personal injury claims, the chief executive of InjuriesBoard.ie has said, reports PAMELA NEWENHAM
Commenting on the 2008 annual report of the board, formerly known as the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), Patricia Byron said “the lower numbers at work and the Health and Safety Authority’s focus on high risk occupations to minimise accidents should also contribute to fewer personal injury claims.”
Ms Byron said tougher legislation, hard hitting anti-fraud campaigns run by the insurance industry and more sophisticated tools for detecting fraudulent claims have helped to tackle the compensation culture in Ireland.
Suggestions that the recession was bringing an increase in personal injury claims were not borne out by the board’s figures, she said.
Compensation totalling €217 million was paid out by the board to 8,845 claimants last year, compared to €181 million awarded to 8,208 claimants in 2007.