Snow, Ice and Insurance Claims
With Icy Weather Gripping the Country, Insurance Claims are on the Rise
It will come as news to no-one that the icy conditions across the country will have led to a rise in accidents, subsequently leading to a rise in the amount of claims on car insurance. However, what exactly is going on in the UK? What kind of problems are motorists currently facing?
The answers could be found in a press release from the AA, who reveal statistics from their recent insurance claims during the heavy snow fall.
The Insurance company is citing a range of accidents that people are facing, with insurance claims painting a picture of chaos on British roads. They refer to Friday 18th December 2009, a day in which 100 claims came in for crashes on the snow and ice before lunchtime.
When we drive in treacherous conditions, potentially anything can be an obstacle so drivers are naturally urged to take extra care whilst using the roads – and in some cases, extra care whilst parking.
Even those opting not to use their cars should ensure they are safe by parking it sensibly. The AA cites two cases, one in which a range of vehicle collided with another vehicle that was parked on the side of the road; and another in which a car was struck whilst sat in the driveway.
The true figures paint a chaotic image of the roads, with the AA reporting that in one morning, they received claims for 31 cars in collisions out on the road, 6 that did not stop at a junction, 14 parked cars that were involved in collisions, 7 vehicles hitting the curb and many more. A large amount of cars also collided with stationary objects such as lampposts and other fixed objects, whilst many vehicles ended up in ditches.
Customers are also urged to ensure ice is removed from the car before setting off, with that ice flying off of the vehicle during the journey, creating a danger for other motorists and pedestrians. The insurance company cites an incident with a seven car pile-up that was caused by ice flying off vehicles.
Source: AA Press Release Dec 2009
