Solicitors slammed over ‘inflated’ injury claims

Aa hits out over litigation ‘industry’

THE AA Roadwatch has slammed solicitors and other professionals for allegedly “enabling” inflated personal injury claims.

It comes as a survey of 5,000 Irish motorists found the majority believe payouts are too high.

AA director of consumer affairs Conor Faughnan said: “It is well-documented Irish whiplash awards are very generous but I don’t think people appreciate the depth of frustration amongst ordinary motorists at just how much money it takes out of their pocket.

“The opportunist listening to the whispering solicitor, who was involved in a relatively minor collision and sees that as an opportunity to get a few grand.

“There’s a large-scale industry which involves solicitors and other professionals enabling and encouraging a litigation culture which hoovers money out of the system.

“And that money is not paid by insurance companies. It is simply totalled up and passed on to the rest of us.

“With an average award of €15k, people tend to think it’s victimless but every time it happens it’s another ratchet at putting up the price for everybody else.”

AA Ireland found over half of respondents, 58%, strongly agree awards for whiplash injuries were unjustly high.

And a further 21% partially agreed payouts should be lower.

A spokesman for the Law

Society of Ireland described Mr Faughnan’s comments as “anti-victim propaganda”.

He added: “Anyone who has attempted to make a claim knows the insurance industry takes a sceptical and even aggressive attitude towards every claim. “In representing and attempting to defend the hugely profitable insurance industry, Mr Faughnan shows disappointingly little respect or thought for his own customers who are the victims of road accidents.”