UKC

How strange. Are there a lot of payouts for Irish climbing walls? Didn't Axa the sole provider of insurance have a monopoly and could have simply raised prices to a commercially viable level?

Something is off.

It is not just climbing walls, it is across the whole of the leisure sector in Ireland. Our clients are owners and operators of ropes courses and zip wire parks. They have all struggled to get cover for 2019, even quotes. When they have they have seen premiums rise by over 100%.

One client, an independent hotel with leisure facilities and an adventure based ropes course saw their premiums for PL insurance go from 15000 euros in 2017, to over 25000 euros in 2018. Then in 2019 they couldn't even get a quote until eventually through contacts and connections they got an offer at over 50000 euros. They had no claims in the period.

It is good to read that some changes appear to have been started at a judicial level and that the industry is coming together to support each other and come up with an industry led solution. Here in the UK we have a great industry led Mutual that will cover and support all outdoor providers and also freelancers. Not just with their insurance needs but also with events, training and advice as well. We use them and recommend you consider them as a business or a freelancer.

They are https://www.activitiesindustrymutual.co.uk/

I was at a free to attend event just last week.

Unfortunately AIM cannot offer cover in Ireland. We (Gravity in Dublin) have asked.

What sort of awards are being made by Irish courts to cause the problem?   I presume that everyone signs the usual waivers, are the courts basically ignoring waivers and holding walls liable for any accident?

A waiver form has no real bearing in Court in the UK. You can not waive away negligence for personal injury or death. Same applies in Ireland. The difference is the JC guidelines which govern the awards in the UK. The awards are much higher in Ireland. If someone actually dies in the UK due to negligence the awards are minimal. 

Yes but before then the wall has to be found negligent so why are Irish walls being found negligent (if they are, if they are not then we are back to Coel's original question)?

There is a tendency to settle out of court.

The underwriter considers how much they will have to pay out in the event of a successful claim; and the attendant costs of defending the claim. They factor that into the premium. If the defence costs and the settlement are much higher in Ireland, then the premium is going to be much higher. 

Essentially, each year the underwriter takes a bet on you. No claims and they win. The prize being the premium value. The year there is a successful claim..they lose. The premium has to reflect the average payout.

One can get €60k easy for minor whiplash in Ireland, more like £10k in comparison in UK, lots of insurers settle out of court rather than rack up legal fees and lose anyway. The legal profession in Ireland is also highly complicit in urging individuals to pursue borderline or fraudulent cases so they can collect fees.

A survey was conducted and 92% of claimants were not continuing any medical treatment 2 months after getting their payout. The issue with climbing wall insurance is not climbing walls it is the payout level across claims of all types in Ireland. The main downhill trails centre has had to close as they couldn't renew their insurance. https://www.bikeparkireland.ie/

In context I drive a 0.9L Polo, mid 30s, 9 years no claims and cheapest car insurance premium available is €725!