People who have suffered catastrophic injuries through negligence are calling on the Government to enact legislation that would enable Periodic Payment Orders (PPOs), annual, index-linked payments of damages that would replace lump-sum settlements.
Luke Miggin, who was brain-damaged at birth, currently has to return to court every few years to seek approval of interim payments to fund his 24-hour care. His mother Emily described the burden of repeated assessments. Margaret Best's son Kenneth received a lump-sum settlement in 1993 based on an estimate of life expectancy that proved inaccurate; his funds were exhausted years ago, although he continues to require care.
Legal practitioners working in this area argue that properly indexed PPOs would give catastrophically injured people the assurance that their compensation will not run out prematurely, and would track the real cost of lifelong care.
Read the full report at RTÉ News.
