Myclaim Market Update July 2009
Groupama Insurance tackles insurance fraud
In a bid to halt fraudulent claims in their tracks, Groupama are using a team trained in innovative cognitive interviewing techniques to enhance detection of fraudulent claims. This uses a wide range of techniques including lots of detailed questions to draw information from claimants. According to the Association of British Insurer’s £14 million of fraudulent claims are being detected every week which shows the scale of the problem.
Three Quarters of Businesses worried over supply chain say Aon
A new survey by insurance giant Aon shows that three quarters of companies in the UK are concerned by threats to the supply chain in operating their businesses with financial risk being the most serious threat. The current swine flu pandemic also seems to be an increasing worry. Aon recommends looking for and acting on early warning signs and says risk management is becoming an increasing priority.
Court of Appeal uphold footballer’s personal injury claim
A week after being on the winning side of the FA Youth Cup in 2003, Ben Collett, a promising player, was injured in a tackle during a reserves game against Middlesbrough. His leg was broken in two places and this subsequently resulted in him retiring from the game. After bringing a claim against Middlesbrough, Collett was successful in being awarded over £4 million in compensation. Middlesbrough appealed this decision, but the award was recently upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Claims for cancelled Michael Jackson tours could cost £300 million
After the recent shocking death of Michael Jackson, costs of the cancellation of his London tour has been put at up to £300 million. Previous attempts to insure the whole of the tour became challenging when the tour was extended due to concerns over the singer’s health.
Aon launches scheme to help with carbon control
In conjunction with RSA, Aon Risk Services has produced Quest, a quality control scheme for addressing carbon management, ahead of UK government legislation to manage CO2 emissions. As directors of the company’s targeted by this regulatory approach could face prosecution for failings, the company provides indemnity cover in case of potential breaches of the regulations.
It can be possible to make a profit through the control of carbon emissions through the trade of units with other companies.
Commercial insurance underwriter APC chooses DAS
After a rigorous tendering process, the commercial underwriter APC has chosen DAS to provide its legal expenses insurance cover. Often regarded as merely a bolt on extra, legal expenses cover provides many businesses with access to legal help when they need it.
Dog attacks on postmen on the increase
In recent years attacks by dogs on postmen and other workers have increased, prompting calls for changes to the law. Postmen, social workers, meter readers and others have suffered serious injuries including being disfigured and also been left with post traumatic stress after attacks. The typical response has been to have the dog destroyed but there are now calls, particularly from the CWU, to have the law changed so that it is easier to seek compensation from the owner of the dog.
At the moment the law consists of a number of remedies, such as the Dangerous Dogs legislation, the Animals Act and even the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957 but none of these are necessarily straight forward in the case of a dog bite. New proposals are an attempt to make dog owners liable if their dogs are dangerously out of control even if in the owner’s own private property.
Fall in road deaths continues
After a significant fall in the number of deaths on British roads in 2007, 2008 saw this trend continue. In 2007 the number of fatalities fell below 3,000 for the first time in forty years after historically falling from the peak numbers during the seventies. A 14% reduction occurred in 2008, again a significant reduction, to just over 2,500. This is approximately a third of the annual deaths on the roads during the peak period in the 1970s.
Although the reduction is clearly good news, it is not immediately apparent why it has occurred. Clearly possible causes are the facts that there is less traffic on the roads generally and what traffic there is moves at a slower speed thanks to increased monitoring.
Health Insurance unlikely to cover swine flu
With the swine flu pandemic likely to result in 100,000 people per day succumbing to the virus, according to the UK government, many people will be checking their policies to see if they are covered. It is unlikely that many people will be able to fund treatment through health insurance as it is classified as an emergency and treatment will be expected through the NHS.