Injuries Board report shows significant reduction in public liability claims

Vincent Jennings, chair of the Alliance for Insurance Reform, criticises insurers for rising public liability premiums despite a significant drop in claims, urging the government to address the issue

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Read More: Alliance for Insurance Reform CSNA Injuries Resolution Board Vincent Jennings

Speaking recently on the publication by the Injuries Resolution Board of its report on “Public Liability Accidents”, the chair of the Alliance for Insurance Reform and CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA), Vincent Jennings said: “In recent years the only thing increasing faster than public liability premiums has been insurer profits, and today’s report shows that this was happening against a backdrop of significantly reducing public liability claims across whole sectors of our economy. It is unconscionable really.”

Some of the report’s key findings include:

1. Regarding personal injuries sustained by visitors to businesses and public spaces between 2019-2023, there has been a 40% reduction in claim volumes during this period. 
2. The total value of annual awards in 2023 is almost €20 million less at 33.2 million, a reduction of 37% in just five years.
3. Claims in cafés, hotels, and restaurants more than halved between 2019 and 2023 (-52%). Shops and stores saw a 44% decrease, and sports and athletic areas experienced a 38% reduction. 
4. There has been a very low volume 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. 

Stepping up

Mr Jennings continued: “For years the message from insurers was that premiums track the volume of claims and the cost of settling them. Today’s report from the Injuries Resolution Board belies that narrative and we need the next government to step up and address this fundamental unfairness. 

“Businesses, sports, community and voluntary groups are currently facing crippling costs of doing business and the Injuries Board data highlighting falling claim volumes and award sizes tells us public liability insurance shouldn’t be another one of these costs.”

Read more: Alliance for Insurance Reform welcomes new duty of care legislation

Read More: Alliance for Insurance Reform CSNA Injuries Resolution Board Vincent Jennings

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