| Alarming rise in PL claims |
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Public liability claims rose by an alarming 22% last year,
reaching 17,627, according to the Irish Insurance Federation. This is
the highest figure since the 20,933 claims in 1999.
These new figures are even more alarming when measured against the
number of claims in 2006. Since 2006, when 12,909 claims were notified
to insurers, PL claims have risen by a massive 43%. The figures are
reminiscent of the figures recorded at the height of the compensation
culture era. However, while the figures for PL claims are indicative of an incipient claims culture, 2008 saw a 7.5% fall in employer liability claims, down from 7,611 in 2007 to 7,071 last year. Over the years since the peak of the claims culture era was reached, EL claims seem to be averaging out at about 7,300 a year, compared to a record 11,752 claims in 2001. This would suggest that whatever about the PL market, which many insurers regard as more susceptible to what could be called ‘give it a try claims’, the efforts of employers and trade unions to ensure employees can return to work early, through partnerships such as the Workplace Safety Group, have stabilised claims at about two-thirds of the level experienced at the height of the claims culture. The figures are disclosed in the IIF Factfile 2009 report. Speaking at the launch of the Factfile, the IIF’s chief executive, Mike Kemp, said that claim numbers had risen by 14% (this figure includes EL, PL, motor and property). The financial figures from the IIF are causing concern, with insurers warning about pressure on costs. Mr Kemp said that “on the non-life side, operating profits fell by 79% and claims costs rose by 23%”. Gross written premiums in the EL market have fallen by €127m over the three-year period 2006 to 2008 and by €97m in the PL market. And while insurers experienced a surge in profits in the years following the apparent demise of the claims culture era, profits are now falling. Profits in the PL market fell by €127m and in the EL market by €26m between 2007 and 2008.
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