Personal injury claim numbers continue to fall - reports

The number of personal injury claims continued to fall last year and is now more than a third lower than before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to two new reports released by the Injuries Resolution Board.

According to the research, over €88 million was saved in 2025 by claims not progressing to litigation.

Both the Injuries Resolution Board's 2025 Annual Report and its latest Personal Injuries Report show that over 20,000 claims were submitted during the year, representing a 4% annual drop and 35% drop from 2019 levels.

The board said it delivered over €88m in savings - a yearly increase of €12m - through the avoidance of legal costs due to accepted claims not progressing to litigation.

However, the total value of awards issued in 2025 was €213m - higher than the previous year. The report said this was driven by more claim awards. Indeed, the Injuries Resolution Board issued more than 10,000 awards last year, a 17% jump.

The median award, at €14,000, was 7% higher year on year, but is still down 24% from six years ago.

Welcomed progress

The Injuries Resolution Board is an independent statutory body that handles personal injury claims in Ireland. All such claims, with the exception of medical negligence claims, must be submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board.

Responding to the declining figures, the Alliance for Insurance Reform said it welcomed the progress, but that continued action is needed to ensure lower claims costs translate into lower insurance costs.

Insurance Ireland, meanwhile, said the reports provide further evidence of the progress made in reforming Ireland's personal injuries system.