Motor claims from pedestrians going up – IRB
A report from the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) has highlighted a significant increase in motor-liability claims from pedestrians last year.
The report says that there was a 15% annual increase in such claims in 2024 alone, with pedestrians experiencing a five-fold higher risk of fatality in road-traffic accidents compared with other road users.
The research report, in collaboration with EY Economic Advisory, reviews motor-liability accidents and claims in Ireland over a six-year timeframe – from 2019 to 2024.
Claims below pre-pandemic level
The report shows that 76,535 claims relating to road-traffic accidents were submitted to the IRB in the six-year period.
There was a 4% increase in total motor claims last year, but claims were down 30% from 2019, despite a return to pre-pandemic traffic volumes.
Claims links to fatal motor accidents, however, have increased by 7% since 2023 and by 20% when compared to 2022.
High-risk groups
As well as pedestrians, the IRB report points out that younger adults, aged between 20 and 24, are also a “high-risk” group. They make up 6% of the population but double the proportion of fatal incidents (13%).
Adults aged over 65 years, who represent 15% of the Irish population, accounted for one in four fatal incidents between 2019 and 2024.
Motorcyclists account for just 2% of personal-injury claims overall but represent one in ten fatal claims.
Data from the report shows that, for every one death on the roads, there are 68 claims made to the board for non-fatal motor-related injuries.
Awards up 5% in 2024
The total value of awards made in 2024 was €105.8 million – a 5% increase on 2023, but a 41% decrease on the total value of motor-liability awards in 2019.
The figures show that more than €370 million was awarded for injuries sustained by car drivers over the six-year period, followed by car passengers (€160 million), pedestrians (€55 million), cyclists (€53 million), and motorcyclists (€24 million).
The report estimates that settling claims through the IRB process, rather than litigation, saved just over €284 million in avoided legal fees.
Road-safety strategies
Dr Lauren Swan (head of research and policy, IRB) said that she hoped that the report would inform the development of targeted road-safety strategies aimed at better protecting vulnerable groups.
The board’s chief executive Rosalind Carroll highlighted the impact that motor accidents were having on children and young adults.
She pointed out that 36% of claims from car passengers come from the youngest age group (0-18), with one in four sustaining psychological injuries from road-traffic accidents.