Size of claim awarded

duffman13

I am just wondering what the cost of a claim usually is. I got a letter for a claim against my insurance three years ago which was settled for over 200k. I am a bit surprised by the level of the award. I had third party policy and hit a guy on a bike, the bike was worth 2k and the guy had a broken ankle. The accident was completely my fault but just wondering if this level of award is normal. Seems quiet high to me.

Also it says my no claim entitlement has been affected but thats been the case for the last three years, will i get a bump in my insurance again because of the size of this payout?

Anan1

duffman13 wrote: »

I had third party policy and hit a guy on a bike, the bike was worth 2k and the guy had a broken ankle. The accident was completely my fault but just wondering if this level of award is normal. Seems quiet high to me.

You did more than break his ankle. As for the award, it depends on the injuries.

Anan1

Anan1 wrote: »

You did more than break his ankle. As for the award, it depends on the injuries.

What makes you say that, because of the size of the claim?

That is a hefty claim amount there, OP. Out of curiosity, what kind of renewal quotes are you getting ?

maidhc

duffman13 wrote: »

I am just wondering what the cost of a claim usually is. I got a letter for a claim against my insurance three years ago which was settled for over 200k. I am a bit surprised by the level of the award. I had third party policy and hit a guy on a bike, the bike was worth 2k and the guy had a broken ankle. The accident was completely my fault but just wondering if this level of award is normal. Seems quiet high to me.

You did a lot more than break his ankle, or if that is all it was pretty profound and there is a wealth of medical evidence documenting this.

duffman13 wrote: »

Also it says my no claim entitlement has been affected but thats been the case for the last three years, will i get a bump in my insurance again because of the size of this payout?

No

Voodoomelon

I know i'd rather not have to limp for the rest of my life than be given 200k. Then again if it was a simple break, 200k sounds a lot. No point in speculating what his injuries were as you just don't know.

mickdw

The limp has a habit of curing once the settlement is received

Tigger

mickdw wrote: »

The limp has a habit of curing once the settlement is received

The claim has a habit of not happening if you don't run down cyclists

Ronnie Beck

Tigger wrote: »

The claim has a habit of not happening if you don't run down cyclists

Expensive bicycle :eek:

CiniO

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Expensive bicycle :eek:

Possibly OP meant motorbike, but TBH 2k for a bicycle is nothing unusual.
Good quality trekking bicycle costs around 1k. Good downhill bicycles costs way more than 2k.

duffman13

It was a motorcycle. I went up to the hospital the day it happened with the guy. I know it was my fault but the doc in the hospital said it was a fracture and he'd be 6 to 8 weeks in a protective boot.

The guy seemed genuine and he only lives about 5 mins from my house. About 3 months after the accident I seen him jogging one day. I am seriously shocked at the payout. If I rang my insurance company would they give a break down in personal injury, medical cost etc!

It's no skin of my nose and it was completely my fault but I can't help thinking something's amiss here!


For the question re renewal prices my insurance went up to 1200 from 660 and has been coming down a little in each of the 3 years since

NUTLEY BOY

You could write to your insurers and request an explanation of the settlement.
You might also expect a claims loading on your next renewal.

Yawns

duffman13 wrote: »

If I rang my insurance company would they give a break down in personal injury, medical cost etc!

Nope. You're not entitled to know any of that.

duffman13

NUTLEY BOY wrote: »

You could write to your insurers and request an explanation of the settlement.
You might also expect a claims loading on your next renewal.

Would that not have already happened with my insurance going up in the year after the accident?

duffman13

Yawns wrote: »

Nope. You're not entitled to know any of that.

Thanks, I'll leave it so, still can't believe the settlement, must have been more damage done than I thought.

Yawns

Out of interest how did you find out the settlement figure?

duffman13

Yawns wrote: »

Out of interest how did you find out the settlement figure?

The insurance company sent me a letter with the final costs. It's standard procedure, I may need it in future if I'm changing insurers. Won't be happening soon though

Yawns

From what I've heard and read I was under the assumption that the insurance company never revealed the settlement figure. Generally it was a settlement has been taken against you and now been resolved/closed type of letter. Some people have even not gotten a letter and only found out come policy renewal time when they query the huge jump and apparent loss of ncb.

Wils110

Would that 200k include medical expenses I know there not going to be that high..but in the future they can claim the break may lead to arthritis blah blah so the future expenses are also taking in to consideration and affect on life...he must of had a unreal solicitor actually 3 years solicitor fees to too add on...200k can be broke down pretty easily

Yawns

Yeah Wils I was thinking about that. Over the course of 3 years, the break down wouldn't be too hard to try figure out. Medical bills would make a large chunk. X-rays, doctor visits for both sides etc, therapy / physio . Solicitor fees would be another big chunk. Guy prob got about 40 - 60k in compensation.

Might sound like a lot of compo, but he would have prob been out of work and if so, loss of earnings. No hobby such as jogging etc.

duffman13

Wils110 wrote: »

Would that 200k include medical expenses I know there not going to be that high..but in the future they can claim the break may lead to arthritis blah blah so the future expenses are also taking in to consideration and affect on life...he must of had a unreal solicitor actually 3 years solicitor fees to too add on...200k can be broke down pretty easily

225k was the final figure including legal and medical costs. From talking to the assessor at the time of the accident they had made an offer of 5k which was refused then a second for 10k. That's probably why I was most shocked. I suppose over 3 years things add up quickly.

Yawns

Sounds like the guy went all the way to court so. Insurance companies usually try to settle out of court. The mother in law settled out of court for €30k for a fall in a shopping center. The insurance company was happy to settle for that amount.

duffman13

Yawns wrote: »

Yeah Wils I was thinking about that. Over the course of 3 years, the break down wouldn't be too hard to try figure out. Medical bills would make a large chunk. X-rays, doctor visits for both sides etc, therapy / physio . Solicitor fees would be another big chunk. Guy prob got about 40 - 60k in compensation.

Might sound like a lot of compo, but he would have prob been out of work and if so, loss of earnings. No hobby such as jogging etc.

He was unemployed at the time of the accident so no loss of earnings. It's one of those situations were I spoke to guy after it happened and besides the fracture he seemed fine! Again that is speculation there may have been something afterwards to complicate things. Think I'll chance the insurance company tomorrow and try find out how it became so expensive

duffman13

Tigger wrote: »

bi-CYCLIST
motor-CYCLIST

RUN DOWN NEITHER PLS

It was an accident, completely my fault. I don't make a habit of it

Yawns

Give it a go. Don't think they will divulge anything tho as they don't have to. In essence it wasn't your money they paid out, even tho you'll be paying higher premiums for the next few years. I wonder now will you have to divulge this claim for 5 years from settlement or 5 years from time claim started, for future reference.

Wils110

So he could also claim it hindered him looking for work for a year there's 25k straight up.

duffman13

Yawns wrote: »

Give it a go. Don't think they will divulge anything tho as they don't have to. In essence it wasn't your money they paid out, even tho you'll be paying higher premiums for the next few years. I wonder now will you have to divulge this claim for 5 years from settlement or 5 years from time claim started, for future reference.

I was told by my insurance company it's five years from the date of the claim not the settlement. I know it wasn't my money but no thinking about the size of the payout I hope the guy hasn't got permanent damage. I wouldn't like that hanging over me.

Yawns

^^ Bingo.

He's unable to source suitable employment due to the accident.

duffman13

Wils110 wrote: »

So he could also claim it hindered him looking for work for a year there's 25k straight up.

3 years of that is 75k, would make a lot of sense I suppose

Yawns

duffman13 wrote: »

I was told by my insurance company it's five years from the date of the claim not the settlement. I know it wasn't my money but no thinking about the size of the payout I hope the guy hasn't got permanent damage. I wouldn't like that hanging over me.

I'd say he'll be fine. I wouldn't worry about it. Accidents happen and you had insurance. It got put to use for exactly what it's there for. I haven't had an accident yet, but I sure as **** know that could well change tomorrow morning in the blink of an eye.

Tigger

duffman13 wrote: »

It was an accident, completely my fault. I don't make a habit of it

I deleted already it cos i realised it could sound nasty
i didnt mean it at you i ment it didnt matter if it was a cyclist or motor cyclist in the future
sorry i know you were in an accident and thats often unavoidable

it wss yer man SAYING THAT PAY-OUTS CURE ANKLES THAT ANNOYED ME

mickdw wrote: »

The limp has a habit of curing once the settlement is received

Wils110

And he came claim he's afraid to ride a bike again losing his way of getting around..once you know your going to get a claim it can be like a snowball effect

lomb

Half of motor insurance premiums are probably due to fraud. It angers me a legal system is built in this country that awards anything more than a few thousand maximum .This is mainly due to the corrosive effect on society creating a bunch of thiefs with dollar signs in their eyes. You could basically look at half of the people out there and not trust them with your lunch money.

mickdw

Tigger wrote: »

it wss yer man SAYING THAT PAY-OUTS CURE ANKLES THAT ANNOYED ME

So you dont believe there are fraudulent claims being brought in cases like this?
I dont know the full story with this particular case but my statement holds true for many if not the majority of these cases.
People argue in court that they have lifetime problems as result of accidents in order to get maximum compensation.
The fact that the guy with the damaged ankle was jogging at 3 months after the incident doesnt do anything to make me change my thoughts on this.

MugMugs

Yawns wrote: »

From what I've heard and read I was under the assumption that the insurance company never revealed the settlement figure. Generally it was a settlement has been taken against you and now been resolved/closed type of letter. Some people have even not gotten a letter and only found out come policy renewal time when they query the huge jump and apparent loss of ncb.

The central banks consumer protection code states that all policyholders are entitled to a letter advising settlement and it's amounts upon closure.

The settlement could be legal cost heavy from both sides of the fence. Loss of earnings could also have had a factor along with further potential discomfort years from now. It's actually not bad all in all. Was there a PIAB award made OP?

Damien360

Surely a large chunk of that award is legal costs, particularily if it got to the high court.

I would expect the guy you hit got a fraction of that figure.

duffman13

MugMugs wrote: »

The central banks consumer protection code states that all policyholders are entitled to a letter advising settlement and it's amounts upon closure.

The settlement could be legal cost heavy from both sides of the fence. Loss of earnings could also have had a factor along with further potential discomfort years from now. It's actually not bad all in all. Was there a PIAB award made OP?

I have no idea, the letter didnt say im afraid

MugMugs

duffman13 wrote: »

I have no idea, the letter didnt say im afraid

It wouldn't. You would have received correspondence from InjuriesBoard.ie

Zubeneschamali

Did the guy angle for a silly award? Did the insurance company defend the claim?

This is why you have insurance. They handled it their way - it's not your problem.

duffman13

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Did the guy angle for a silly award? Did the insurance company defend the claim?

This is why you have insurance. They handled it their way - it's not your problem.

Never said it was my problem, just looking for some information on whether the size of the award was above average. I dont take issue with anything thats happened, I am just curious as to whether this is a standard amount in a payout. The insurance company made offers which were rejected and as far as I am aware it must have went to court.

@Mugmugs
I didnt recieve any other letter except that one from the insurance company.

MugMugs

duffman13 wrote: »

@Mugmugs
I didnt recieve any other letter except that one from the insurance company.

To address your initial query.

There are so many variables involved in a Personal Injury claim and on top of it, the claimant could have even took the mick.

Your insurer could have delayed for too long, the other solicitor dealing with the matter could have charged high costs, the claimants doctor could have found issues that would cause the claimant complications further on down the line, the claimant could have been on 100k a year and missed out on a large portion of his wages.

Whatever.

The list is endless.

E200k is high but not unknown for what may seemingly appear to be a straightforward accident.

You'll never know how much he got though unless he tells you. That's information that you're not entitled to.

Hope that helps.

duffman13

Yeah I know now, insurance company wouldnt give me the information either. Anyway thanks for the advice