Injuries Resolution Board Assessment and Mediation Advice

Assessment and mediation are different processes

The Injuries Resolution Board, formerly PIAB, offers assessment and mediation for claims within its remit. Assessment considers the value of a claim using medical and other evidence. Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process in which an independent mediator helps the parties explore a possible agreement.

You can deal directly with the Board without a solicitor. Legal advice can help you understand what is being proposed, whether important evidence is missing and the implications of the decision you are being asked to make. This page concerns advice during assessment and mediation; our Board application service explains the application stage.

Reviewing a notice of assessment

A review should consider the medical diagnosis and prognosis, the injuries addressed, the effect on daily life and the financial losses supported by the documents. Compare the notice with the evidence actually submitted. Tell your solicitor about ongoing symptoms, recommended treatment or an important change in your work position.

The Board’s published process gives a claimant 28 days and a respondent 21 days to accept or reject an assessment. Bring the notice to your solicitor promptly so the deadline stated in your case can be checked. An assessment should not be accepted or rejected simply because it is higher or lower than an online estimate.

Preparing for mediation

Mediation requires agreement to participate. It can explore issues such as liability, claim value, injury and future treatment. The mediator facilitates discussion and does not impose a result. Think about the issues in dispute, the evidence supporting your position and the terms you would need to understand before agreeing anything.

Documents to have ready for advice

• Your claim reference, application, Board correspondence and any notice of assessment.
• Medical reports, updated treatment information and details of symptoms not yet addressed.
• The schedule of expenses, receipts and documents supporting lost income.
• Correspondence about liability, offers, mediation consent or proposed settlement terms.
• A list of questions about future treatment, work, recovery and the meaning of any agreement.

It helps to identify what has already been sent to the Board and what is new. Keep a copy of each response. Do not assume that correspondence or a request for advice extends a response deadline.

Considering the outcome and next steps

If both parties accept an assessment, the Board issues an Order to Pay. If the assessment is not accepted, an authorisation may allow court proceedings. Court proceedings are a separate decision requiring advice about the merits, evidence, costs and time limits.

Where mediation produces an agreement, the Board’s process provides for a written agreement and a 10-day cooling-off period. The precise terms and deadlines should be checked before signing. If mediation does not resolve matters, the next step depends on the consents and the status of the claim.

Our role is to help you consider the available evidence and options. A recommendation to reject an assessment does not guarantee a larger award, and participation in mediation does not guarantee settlement. Read our guide to the Personal Injuries Guidelines for the wider assessment framework.

Board assessment and mediation advice: common questions

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