11 December 2024

News Release-Mediation for ML Claims and Cyclist and E-Scooter Report

News Release

Report from Injuries Resolution Board Highlights E-Scooter and Cyclist Safety Showing the Personal and Economic Costs of Accidents as Mediation Service launches for Motor Claims

Full Roll Out of Mediation: Mediation service now available for motor accident claims and has the potential to resolve approximately 12,000 claims each year.
Severity of Injuries: Cyclists and e-scooter users are 11 times more likely to sustain severe and serious injuries in road traffic accidents than motorists. Orthopaedic injuries were most common among both groups with e-scooter users more than twice as likely to experience facial injuries.
Demographic Insights and Trends:
1. The majority of injured cyclists (54%) are aged 36-60, while the majority of injured e-scooter users (59%) are aged 18-35.
2. E-scooter users are more likely to be students (16% vs. 9%) and minors under 18 (13% vs. 5%) compared to cyclists.

Nighttime Risks: E-scooter accidents are twice as likely to occur between 6 PM and 6 AM, with 31% happening during these hours versus 15% for cyclists.
Helmet Usage: 34% of e-scooter users reported not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, compared to 19% of cyclists.
Personal Injury Awards: In 2023 a total of € 9.8m in compensation was awarded in 329 claims involving cyclists and e-scooter users. The average award among injured cyclists was €27,837 compared to €20,513 among e-scooter users.

The Injuries Resolution Board has today launched their Accidents involving Cyclists and E-scooter Users Report, the first in their new Vulnerable Road User Series aimed at maximising the value of personal injury claims data to enhance the safety of those most at risk of injury on our roads.

The report examines over 300 personal injury awards made in 2023 for injuries sustained by cyclists and e-scooter users, totaling over €9.8 million in personal injury compensation.

Speaking on the launch of the report, Head of Research and Policy at the Injuries Resolution Board, Dr. Lauren Swan said:

“Today’s report aims to maximise the value of personal injury claims data to enhance the safety of those most at risk of injury on our roads. It also importantly allows us to start to track trends in relation to the evolving use of modes of transport such as e-scooters so we can learn from them.
Our research shows that injured e-scooter users are predominantly young, with most aged between 18-35 years and 13% aged less than 18 years old. Compared to cyclists, e-scooter users are at a higher risk of evening and night-time accidents, are more likely to report not wearing a helmet and are twice as likely to sustain facial injuries.

Despite the different characteristics of injured cyclists, the impact of road traffic accidents is equally profound, with 1 in 5 cyclists hospitalised as a result of their injuries, with an average in-patient stay of 4 days.
This report identifies high-risk demographic groups, detailed injury patterns, and specific risk factors of road traffic accidents involving vulnerable road users in Ireland. It is hoped that the findings will inform the development of tailored road safety and accident prevention policies.”

Mediation Service Now Available for Motor Accident Claims

One-Year Milestone and Final Phase Launch: Mediation service launched in December 2023 for workplace accidents, expanded to public liability claims in May 2024. From today, mediation is now available for Motor accident claims
Greater Potential to Resolve More Claims: The new mediation service is now available for approximately 12,000 motor claims a year. With savings in avoided litigation costs through our assessment service totalling €75 million last year, the expansion of the Injuries Resolution Board services to include mediation creates greater potential to resolve more claims and substantially increase this savings figure.
Motor Claims are Largest Category: Motor is the largest category of claims the Injuries Resolution Board deals with accounting for almost 60% of claim applications, and therefore this final roll out represents a significant measure for wider insurance reform

How it Works?

Confidential and Voluntary: Experienced mediators facilitate agreements between claimants and respondents offering a quick and collaborative way of resolving claims
Convenient Process: Mediations typically conducted over the phone
Broad Scope for discussion: Parties control what’s up for discussion, which means issues like liability, claim value and future treatment can be discussed
Legally Binding Outcomes: Agreements reached through mediation are issued as legally binding Orders, equivalent to court orders.

Speaking on the extension of the Injuries Resolution Board’s mediation service Hilary McGouran said:

“We are looking forward to extending our mediation service in motor accident claims, which represent the biggest number of claims submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board every year.
While the service is in its infancy, we have already seen the power of mediation in providing full and final resolution for personal injury claims in workplace accidents and in public liability claims.
In mediation, the parties control what’s up for discussion, which means issues like liability, claim value and future treatment can be discussed, to name but a few. However, it is also quick way of resolving uncontested claims.”

Speaking on the launch of both the report and the extension of the mediation service, Injuries Resolution Board CEO Rosalind Carroll said:

“Today’s report underscores the urgent need to protect some of our most vulnerable road users through informed policy and enhanced public awareness. By harnessing personal injury data, we can provide crucial insights for the development of effective safety initiatives that can help reduce accidents and injuries and ensure our roads are safer for everyone.
These insights into demographic trends and accident patterns provide a crucial foundation for developing effective safety measures and educational campaigns.
Behind every claim is a person who suffered an injury. We can see from this report the broad reaching impact these accidents can have on some of our most vulnerable road users with some reporting reduced quality of life, financial loss, including job loss and strained personal relationships. The extension of our mediation service to motor accident claims provides a real opportunity to resolve these claims in a quick and collaborative way ensuring we continue to deliver fair and efficient outcomes for all those impacted by accidents.”