Injuriesboard.ie announces partnership with Temple Street Hospital
Injuriesboard.ie announces partnership with Temple Street Hospital
Injuriesboard.ie publishes data on Claims by Minors and announces Sponsorship of Temple Street Hospital Fundraising
Childhood accidents most likely to be motor related, occurring in Dublin, in April or August, involving children aged 3 - 7 years and resulting in soft tissue injury.
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Pictured is Professor Alf Nicholson, Consultant Paediatrician, Temple Street Children's Hospital, Patricia Byron, Chief Executive, InjuriesBoard.ie and 8 year old Sarah Morrissey, patient at Temple Street Children's Hospital.
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Children aged 3 - 7 years are over three times more likely to have an accident that results in a personal injury claim than infants aged 3 or less, according to research published today (Friday, 6th May 2010) by InjuriesBoard.ie. The Board's assessment of 2010 Awards to minors shows that childhood accidents were more than twice as likely to occur in April and August, than in December, making these the most dangerous and safest months respectively.
Publication of claims data for minors coincides with today's announcement that InjuriesBoard.ie is to sponsor Temple Street Hospital's upcoming fund raising campaign, which goes live on Monday, 9th May 2010, to support services to injured and sick children.
In 2010, 615 minors were awarded compensation totaling €8.5million, or an average of €13,839.90. Awards ranged in value from €500 to over €170,000. Motor related accidents (at 79%) accounted for almost five times as many injuries as public liability (21%). Girls accounted for 52% of awards while 48% of awards were made to boys. Unsurprisingly, Dublin accounted for the largest portion of Awards nationally, at 23.2%, followed by Cork at 11%. No awards were made to minors in County Leitrim.
Commenting on the collaboration, Ms Patricia Byron, Chief Executive, InjuriesBoard.ie said: "Temple Street Hospital provides tremendous support to children who have been involved in oftentimes traumatic accidents. Where an accident was caused by someone other than the child, our focus is on handling any personal injury claim arising in an efficient and timely manner. By teaming up with Temple Street, we aim to promote the supports and guidance available from the Board's sensitive claims assessment process. We are also very supportive of Temple Street's ongoing research in to the causes of childhood injuries."
Professor Alf Nicholson, Consultant Paediatrician, Temple Street Hospital said: "Injuries are a serious public health problem in Europe and more children over the age of one die of injuries than all other diseases combined. For every child that dies from an injury, 160 are admitted to hospital and over 2,000 are seen in the emergency department - deaths are just the tip of the iceberg. Clearly no one wishes to be involved in an accident or to incur an injury. Simple life saving measures include increased care and attention and always using appropriate seating restraints and wearing of helmets by cyclists."
"Being at the coal face of supporting accident victims, we are very encouraged at the actions being taken by the Injuries Board to ease the trauma of accident claims for minors and their parents and guardians," concluded Professor Nicholson.
Ends Friday, 6th May 2011
For Reference:
InjuriesBoard.ie
Avril Collins / Pat Walsh
Murray Consultants
Tel: (01) 498 0300 or 086 396 4368 (Avril) / 087 226 9345 (Pat)
Temple Street Children's Hospital
Mo Durkan
Head of Communications
Tel: 087 9908413
*Note to Editors
Minor Awards 2010: Geographic Breakdown:
Highest No. of Awards % Lowest No. of Awards %
1. Dublin 23.2% 1. Leitrim 0
2. Cork 11% 2. Carlow 0.2%
3. Galway 7.3% 3. Kilkenny 0.8%
4. Limerick 6.5% 4. Offaly / Laois 1%
5. Tipperary 5.5% 5. Kerry / Roscommon 1.3%
Minor Awards 2010: Injury Type
Minor Awards 2010: Award Value Breakdown
Minor Awards 2010: Breakdown by Age Category
Minor Awards: Breakdown by Month of Accident
InjuriesBoard.ie Case Studies - Minor Awards 2010
1. Ciara a 10 year old girl was a restrained, rear seat passenger in a car who was involved in a side impact collision. She was trapped in the car for almost one hour and sustained multiple fractures to her leg and collar bone.
Her injuries required immediate surgery and she remained in hospital for 1 week and underwent much physiotherapy during the subsequent months. Overall, she has healed well and made a good recovery, however she has not yet returned to her full recreational activities such as football and basketball.
InjuriesBoard.ie assessed Ciara's claim and she was awarded just over €76,000 in both General and Special Damages, this amount also allowed for necessarily incurred fees and expenses.
2. Adam a twelve year old school boy was crossing the road outside his school when he was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at the pedestrian crossing. He sustained multiple injuries including concussion, a fractured pelvis and several lacerations and abrasions.
He was hospitalized for almost 1 month and here he was also placed in a full hip cast for 5 weeks and required extensive physiotherapy treatment. For some time after his injury, Adam was unable to run and therefore could not engage in school sports and this caused him much distress. However, he has now made a full recovery.
Adam's claim was assessed by the Board and he was awarded approximately €100,000 - this amount allowed for both General and Special Damages and also necessarily incurred fees and expenses.
3. Shane was playing in the local playground when the chain on the swing suddenly broke and he fell from a height. He suffered a fracture to his vertebrae and was treated with a brace for about 1 month.
With the help of regular physiotherapy he made a gradual recovery and even though he still suffers from some intermittent back pain, he has returned to playing sports.
An assessment comprising General and Special Damages and necessary fees and expenses was awarded to Shane of almost €30,000.
4. Lisa, a secondary school student, was a restrained, rear seat passenger in a car that was involved in a head-on collision with a car travelling on the wrong side of the road.
She sustained a fractured jaw, minor skull fracture and significant injuries to her face and mouth.
She remained in hospital for some time and still has difficulty eating. She suffered significant facial scarring in the accident and this will require reconstructive surgery in the future.
Lisa was awarded almost €173,000 in General and Special Damages and also necessarily incurred fees and expenses, this amount allows for future scar revision surgery and also future dental treatment.
5. While out with friends, Cathal slipped and fell backwards on a wet, unmarked floor in a fast food restaurant. He suffered soft tissue injury to his lower back, resulting in bruising and contusions. He was in pain for several days and unable to attend school for approx. 1 week. He can still sometimes encounter pain when playing sports at school.
InjuriesBoard.ie assessed Cathal's claim and he was awarded just over €12,000 in General and Special Damages and necessary fees and expenses, such as travelling expenses.
About InjuriesBoard.ie:
InjuriesBoard.ie is an independent statutory body, which assesses the amount of compensation due to a person who has suffered a personal injury.
Claims can be made direct via:
Phone: Lo-Call helpline - 1890 829 121 between 8am and 8pm from Monday to Friday
Online at www.injuriesboard.ie , 24 hours per day, every day
By Post to: InjuriesBoard.ie, P.O. Box 8, Clonakilty, County Cork.
In the period since its establishment in mid 2004 to the end of 2010, InjuriesBoard.ie has made over 40,000 awards in the areas of motor, public and employer liability amounting to €917m in compensation. By delivering these awards four times faster and with a low administration charge, the InjuriesBoard.ie model has delivered direct and indirect savings of over €300m to the economy. The Board's services are delivered at no cost to the Exchequer as it is funded through fees charged, by and large, to insurers.
