LV= General Insurance reveals rise in accidental damage claims

LV= General Insurance saw a spike in accidental damage claims last month as a result of lockdown and more time spent at home.

The insurer’s data revealed that accidental damage claims in January represented 48% of all new claims, the third highest peak seen since April (51%) and May (50%) last year, when England was in the first national lockdown.

LV= said the change in lifestyle brought about by pandemic-busting shielding and isolation was the obvious cause, with accidental damage accounting for 30% of claims in pre-Covid times.

Additionally, in January 2021, accidental damage claims where spillage was the cause reached a record high of 22%.

Within this figure, more than two in five (44%) accidental damage claims related to computer and office equipment—the highest peak since April last year when it reached 46%. In pre-Covid times, around 30% of all spillage claims accounted for this type of equipment.

Martin Milliner, claims director at LV= General Insurance, said accidental damage to computers, laptops and other technology equipment was “inevitable” during these enforced lengthy periods at home.

For example, Milliner said: “From our data, we can see that many of us are making a drink, putting it to the side of our technology while we work and home-school, and accidentally knocking it over.”

“Accidental damage insurance is there for you when these incidents happen. It’s always worth checking the limit of your accidental damage policy, especially at the moment if the whole family is spending more time at home.”

Mark Dugdale