- PIAB awards almost €19k for whiplash damages
- That’s more than 10 times as much as special damages for the same ‘injury’
- Whiplash awards 5 times as much as the UK
- Legislative cap on general damages cap must be implemented
ISME, the Irish SME Association today (5th November) welcomes this morning’s publication of the road accident whiplash data. The Association is calling for the immediate introduction of a legislative cap on general damages in the Book of Quantum.
Commenting on the publication of today’s data, ISME CEO Neil McDonnell stated:
“The average PIAB award for a whiplash case was €18,581 in general damages, which are for pain and suffering. This is more than 10 times as much as the average €1,456 for special damages, which cover payments for medical expenses, loss of earnings etc. Beyond the whiplash statistics, the PIAB annual report shows that the number of motor claims, employer liability claims and public liability claims is up, and that the claim value in each category is climbing.”
Ireland pays a very high price for this, with Insurance Ireland statistics showing that our total gross premiums per head amount to $4,408 per annum, compared to an OECD average of $2,757 per head, and an EU average of just $2,383 per head (values in US Dollars per annum).
Mr. Neil McDonnell added:
“This ‘rent’ is being imposed on Irish motorists, home owners and businesses because there is a persistent refusal to take on the vested interests who profit from it.
It is farcical that we pay out five times the award paid in the UK for whiplash, especially bearing in mind that UK payouts are generous by comparison with those in other countries. The Irish College of General Practitioners considers most whiplash claims to be spurious.
We must introduce a legislative cap on general damages in the Book of Quantum as a matter of urgency.”
ENDS.
For further information, please contact
Wayne Tobin
T: 01 6622755,
E: [email protected]
