Motor insurance hikes not reflected in claims data as payouts have not risen significantly

It is not clear how claims have contributed to increases in motor insurance premiums, says the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, as payouts have not risen significantly for years.

“Our figures in recent years do not support the level of increase in claims and we cannot see how it would justify the level of increases that we have seen,” said chief executive of the board Conor O’Brien, at a meeting of the joint Oireachtas committee discussing rising motor insurance costs.

The board has assessed 100,000 claims since it was set up in 2003 to provide a low- cost alternative model for personal injuries claims.