Swiftcover: Car insurance claims rise as snow falls

Friday, 08, Jan 2010 01:11

Car insurance claims soared by almost 75 per cent because of this week's freezing weather, Swiftcover revealed today.

The insurer said its staff had dealt with an 'unprecedented' level of calls, which rocketed above the already inflated figures predicted for the start of a New Year.

Claims during the winter months are usually 21 per cent higher than the rest of the year, Swiftcover explained, and the first working week of a New Year sees figures peak as people return to work and the school run.

However, the freezing temperatures, snow and blizzards have added to this seasonal increase.

Robin Reames, director of claims at Swiftcover, said: "The severity of the snow this week caught everyone by surprise and resulted in lots of drivers having accidents and problems with their cars, which in turn meant a record number of people contacting Swiftcover.com for help or to make a claim."

He praised staff at the insurance firm, many of whom made a particular effort to trudge through the snow to help with the deluge of calls.

Some stayed in nearby hotels to make their journeys easier, many were driven by company-hired four-wheel drive vehicles, and one even got up at 4am to dig his car out of the snow.