The amount of money awarded to personal injury claimants last year by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) rose 57 per cent to €181 million.
In a statement on its activity today the PIAB said 8,200 personal injury claimants received awards some 47 per cent more than in 2006.
The PIAB was established to reduce the legal costs attached to insurance claims by assessing and settling undisputed claims without resort to the courts.
The average time taken to settle a claim was now 6.7 months according to the PIAB, which said that this was almost a quarter of the average time required prior to its establishment.
The average PIAB award last year was €22,057 with the highest single claim totalling €620,000.
As with the courts, the PIAB makes awards having regard to the Book of Quantum, which is a
guide to compensation levels for particular injuries.
Patricia Byron, PIAB chief executive said the board had reached full activity levels last year and said "the sustainable benefits of the non adversarial model are now clear".
"PIAB is not just faster and more efficient but claimants benefit from awards at the same level as the courts whilst avoiding the stress of a court appearance, this is not to be underestimated".
"For example, 2007 saw an increase in allowances for medical costs based on a case by case assessment of claimants' needs rather than a flat fee approach.
PIAB also extended the circumstances in which vulnerable personal injury claimants may be allowed additional fees and expenses," she said.
A legislative amendment introduced last year should further reduce the number of unnecessary and costly court trips, she said. "As a result of the amendment, claimants who reject PIAB awards but subsequently fail to secure higher awards in Court are liable for the legal costs arising" Ms Byron said.