PIAB may appeal court ruling on legal representation

The Personal Injuries Assessment Board has revealed that it may appeal a High Court judgement today stating that people making claims before the board are entitled to legal representation.

The board was established in an effort to reduce insurance costs by removing solicitors from the process of claiming compensation.

Under the legislation setting up the body, all compensation claims must first be lodged with the PIAB, which would then make a damages assessment.

Anybody unhappy with the outcome could then hire a solicitor and bring an appeal before the courts.

However, the High Court ruled today that people making claims before the board must be entitled to legal representation from the outset.

Responding to the ruling today, PIAB spokesperson Patricia Burke said: "We are looking at the judgement and we will discuss with the governing board over the next few days and consider the prospect of an appeal."