14 January 2025

Press Release - Public Liability Accident Report

Injury claims in hospitality sector halve in 5 years with just 256 claims identified in childcare settings - Injuries Resolution Board latest report.

This report utilises data from over 30,000 claim applications for injuries sustained by visitors to businesses and public spaces between 2019-2023, highlighting a 40% reduction in claim volumes during this period.
Claims in cafés, hotels, and restaurants more than halved between 2019 and 2023. Shops and stores saw a 44% decrease, and sports and athletic areas experienced a 38% reduction.
However, claims in residential institutions rose by 22%, largely due to fatal incidents in long-term care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Low volumes of claims for accidents in childcare settings, a sector that has historically reported high insurance costs, with just 256 personal injury claims identified over five years, compared to nearly 170,000 children enrolled in 2020/2021.
The total value of Public Liability awards made between 2019 and 2023 was almost €130 million, with the total value of awards made in 2023 almost €20 million or 37% lower than 2019.
Outdoor falls caused by hazards such as uneven or broken footpaths and potholes, cause more pedestrian injuries than motor vehicle collisions. Although these injuries tend to be less severe, their frequency is nearly double, equating to over €9 million in compensation in 2023.

14th January 2025 - The Injuries Resolution Board, in collaboration with EY Economic Advisory, has released a comprehensive research report reviewing public liability accidents and claims in Ireland over the last 5 years (2019 to 2023). This report highlights sector-specific trends in accidents and claims, with a more detailed focus on specific areas such as childcare for the first time.

Dr Lauren Swan, Head of Research and Policy at the Injuries Resolution Board said

“This report, utilising data from over 30,000 claim applications, allows us to better understand which demographic groups are at higher risk of sustaining injuries in business and public spaces. The report highlights the significant impact of outdoor falls on older adults, with more than half of this age group sustaining moderate to severe injuries. Our research contributes to a growing body of evidence showing that not all accidents are experienced equally, underscoring the need for enhanced protective measures to mitigate the risk of accidents.

Additionally, the data presented within the report provides greater transparency in the claims’ environment for the public liability area and provides important insights on the costs and frequency of claims which should be helpful to both policy makers and insurance companies alike.”

Volumes and Awards

The report highlights a 40% reduction in public liability claim volumes in 2023 compared to 2019 despite a slight increase of 3% in claims in 2023 on the previous year.
Claim volumes have reduced significantly across all accident locations, with claims among cafés, hotels, and restaurants reducing by more than half, and shops and stores experiencing a 44% decrease. Claims among residential institutions were the exception, seeing a 22% increase, which an in-depth analysis attributing this increase to fatalities in long-term care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The median value of an award in 2023 for a public liability claim was €12,414, down 40% on 2020, and the acceptance rate of awards was 57%, which represents the highest acceptance rate of any claim category. While the consent rate from respondents has improved, with 54% of respondents consenting to assessments by the Board in 2023, it is hoped that more respondents will engage and use the new mediation service going forward in order to reduce the number of cases entering into costly and lengthy litigation.

Other key findings from the report include:

While adults aged over 65 account for 15% of the population according to the 2022 Irish Census, this age group represented 21% of all public liability claims and 31% of claims related to outdoor falls from 2019 to 2023, highlighting this demographic’s additional vulnerability to unsafe environments. The data also shows differences in injuries for older adults. For example, older adults are more likely to sustain upper limb injuries than younger cohorts in falls, likely due to use of arms and hands to break a fall.
Dublin had a high percentage of claims relative to its population size. 37% of public liability claimants were from the Dublin area, despite only 28% of the population residing there.
Falls were the most common cause of public liability accidents, accounting for nearly 15,000 claims and just under €90 million in compensation from 2019 to 2023.
Claims related to assaults in public places increased by 10% in 2023 vs 2022, mirroring a similar trend in workplaces, where assaults increased by 9% in 2023.

Speaking on the publication of the report, Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD said:

“Reports such as this offer us key insights as legislators and public policy makers into the prevailing trends in personal injuries that impact on a wide variety of Irish life in areas such as tourism, business supports, and agriculture. The introduction of the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act in 2022, and the extension of the Board’s functions to Research, has enabled the Board to better utilise their valuable data to bring transparency to the personal injuries area . Today’s report shows the inroads being made in terms of Insurance Reform with the overall cost of claims in this area down significantly but also highlights the very real impact accidents can have at an individual level and enables us to learn from this in terms of prevention.
“The reduction in the cost of claims needs now to be passed on to policy holders. The Government’s Insurance Reform plan has transformed the operating environment of insurance in Ireland. Policy holders need to see this reflected in their premiums.”

Injuries Resolution Board CEO Rosalind Carroll concluded:

“This report is important as it delivers insights that can be actionable, both in terms of safeguarding individuals, but also in terms of understanding the trends of where and how often claims are occurring in certain areas.
Our research allows us, for the first time, to take a closer look at certain sectors within the public liability setting, such as childcare, an area that affects so much of society. Today’s data reveals a remarkably low volume of claims: just 256 accidents over five years, compared to 170,000 children enrolled annually."

This report shows the real value of our data and the crucial role it can play in preventing accidents, informing policy and in the assessment and pricing of risk for various sectors across our society.”
To find out more about the Injuries Resolution Board and its services visit www.injuries.ie

ENDS