Press Release Award Values Report H2 2024

Press Release                                                                                                                      

35% reduction in Personal Injuries Claims continues despite high levels of employment and a return to pre-pandemic traffic volumes

2nd of April 2025: Today, the Injuries Resolution Board has launched its report on personal injury claims and awards for 2024, which shows personal injury claims are still 35% lower than 2019.  

The latest Award Values Report highlights key trends from over 20,000 personal injury claim applications and more than 8,000 awards. 

Despite high employment levels and a return to pre-pandemic traffic volumes, findings from the report show a significant reduction in claims compared to 2019. Claims for accidents in workplaces, businesses and public spaces fell by 40%, while motor claims decreased by 30%.

There was a 5% reduction in workplace injury claims last year, compared to 2023, while claims for accidents in businesses and public spaces remained unchanged from 2023. These findings highlight stability in sectors which have identified insurance cost and availability as crucial, particularly SMEs.

In 2024, 20,318 personal injury claim applications were submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board for road traffic accidents, workplace accidents and public-setting accidents, an increase of just 1% on 2023 figures.

In addition, average and median award values have decreased from 2020 levels, following the introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines in 2021:

• The median award value decreased by 29% from €18,422 (2020) to €13,000 (2024).
• The average award value decreased by 21% from €23,877 (2020) to €18,967 (2024).

Speaking on the publication of the report, Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said:  

“I welcome the Injuries Resolution Board’s latest report which again shows strong evidence for the impact that the Board has in offering a cost effective and expedient solution for settling claims and reducing the need to go to court thereby saving millions of euros that would have been spent on legal fees.

 

As personal injuries claims continue to fall in both volume and value, I expect to see this reflected in both the cost and the availability of insurance premiums for citizens and businesses. In the Government’s new Action Plan for Insurance Reform I will ensure that the work of the Injuries Resolution Board is further strengthened to continue to drive the important issue of insurance reform, taking account of the wider issue of competitiveness and potential impacts on our economy.” 

Other key findings from the report, the eighth iteration of this series since the introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines in April 2021, include:

• In 2024, the median award value increased to €13,000, a 12% increase from 2023. The average award also increased by 4%, from €18,215 in 2023 to €18,967 in 2024.
• This increase reflects the changing profile of injuries within claims, with the Board now assessing and resolving more complex injury cases. In 2024, one in five assessments related to moderate severity injuries, compared to one in eight in 2021.
• Additionally, the Board can now assess wholly psychological injuries, with claims for psychiatric damage injuries increasing from 5% of awards in 2021 to 14% of awards made in the second half of 2024.
• In 2024, the number of respondents consenting to the Board’s assessment and mediation services maintained its record-level consent rate of 71%, as in 2023. This means more cases are proceeding through the Board’s assessment and mediation services.
• The percentage of assessments being accepted by both Claimants and Respondents reached 50% in 2024, up from 48% in 2023 and 44% in 2022, meaning more cases are being resolved through the Board’s services rather than proceeding through litigation.
• The highest award in 2024 was for a workplace claim at €592,225 (where the worker sustained severe injuries).

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

“Our latest Award Values report shows that despite record employment levels and a return to pre-pandemic traffic volumes, personal injury claim volumes in 2024 remained 35% lower than 2019.

 

While this report highlights a significant 29% reduction in the median value of personal injury awards under the Guidelines, it is crucial to consider not only the savings achieved from more consistent award values, but also the overall reduction in personal injuries claims. This new environment underscores the importance of our research and the ongoing monitoring of trends in the personal injury landscape.”

 Injuries Resolution Board CEO Rosalind Carroll said:

“Today’s report highlights significant decreases in claim volumes since 2019, with an overall reduction of 35% maintained year on year. Public liability and employer liability claims have decreased by over 40%, and in 2024, there was no increase in public liability claims and a 5% decrease in employer liability claims. This is an important trend given the historical challenges in the affordability and availability of insurance in these areas.

 

The report also shows that respondents are choosing our services in record numbers, with consent rates now at 71%, and acceptance of our awards is also up.

 

The Personal Injuries Guidelines were introduced in 2021 to provide certainty and consistency in award values. Since they were introduced, we have assessed over 30,000 claims using the Guidelines. This report highlights the value of our data in bringing transparency to this area and provides a valuable resource for policymakers and the public, offering insights and trends to help inform policy and assess risk.”

The Injuries Resolution Board’s latest Award Values Report is available to view here: https://www.injuries.ie/!15HSVN

To find out more about the Personal Injuries Resolution Board and its services visit  www.injuries.ie

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ENDS   

For more information about the Award Values Report, or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact: media@injuries.ie

About the Personal Injuries Resolution Board

The Personal Injuries Resolution Board is the independent state body for personal injury claims resolution in Ireland. The organisation supports the fair, prompt, and transparent resolution of personal injuries claims without the need for unnecessary litigation. The remit of the organisation was broadened in 2023with the introduction of new services such as mediation as well as an extended remit for Research. It is a self-funded public body and is a key pillar in contributing to the reform of the insurance sector and the personal injuries environment. The state body generates millions in savings which would otherwise be spent on pursuing claims through litigation, leading to higher costs for policyholders.  

Report Notes:

1) In 2024, over 500 claims were submitted by members of An Garda Síochána, injured in the course of their duties, as part of the Board’s newly expanded remit to assess this claim type. Garda Compensation Scheme Claims are not included in this report.

2) All personal injury claims must be submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board, unless settled early with the respondent or insurers. Practically, this means that regardless of whether a claim is ultimately resolved through the Injuries Resolution Board or through litigation (including settlements made both pre-Court award and by Court assessment), the claim would have been first submitted to and recorded by the Injuries Resolution Board.

Glossary of Key Terms