Seanad debates
Thursday, 20 November 2003
Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Second Stage.
The merit of this Bill is that it provides a fast-track process to minimise legal costs. There is no doubt that legal costs are very high and a deterrent. I can cite a similar example to that cited by Senator McDowell. A few years ago, my son was knocked off a bicycle and his arm was in a sling for two or three of the summer months. Lawyer friends were outraged that we did not make a claim. The person who did it was very decent in acknowledging responsibility. Our first instinct when we stub a toe should not be to make an insurance claim. It is a different matter if there is real, substantial and lasting damage. There are a certain amount of knocks in everyday life, which all of us should be capable of taking without running to insurance companies or courts.
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