Housework and entertainment are the main cause of accidents during the summer months

The insurance statistics of SEB Elu- ja pensionikindlustus reveal that summer accidents are most often the result of falls from motorcycles and bicycles, as well as active recreational summer activities. On average, an accident causes a person to be away from work for 43 days, and the average compensation per accident is EUR 600.

The claim handling statistics of SEB Elu- ja pensionikindlustus suggests that as many as half of the insured events during summer are connected with household chores, when during renovation, building or gardening works heavy loads need to be lifted, various tools are used and ladders climbed. A large number of accidents involve falls from motorcycles, bicycles and ATVs, and also during inline skating. The third major cause of traumas is entertainment and opportunities for spending free time – people suffer injuries when playing ball on the beach or during other summer pastimes such as jumping on a trampoline, running on the sand and stepping on something sharp. Burns suffered from using open flames and injuries from jumping into unfamiliar waters are also not isolated incidents.

Children are involved in a significant number of accidents involving means of transport

Although the major boom in trampoline purchases has passed, trampoline accidents continue to persist in claims statistics. The top cause of accidents involving children is means of transport, such as skateboards, roller skates, bikes, push bikes, and traumas caused by falling from them. As new means of transport are introduced, new types of accidents are reflected in claims statistics – last year, the first reports came in about fractured bones and contusions due to falling from hoverboards. Falls on playgrounds and in theme parks, water-related accidents as well as injuries received from pets and domestic animals also stand out in claims statistics.

“The possible consequences of accidents are often underestimated. Our claim handling statistics indicate that an adult has to be away from work for an average of 43 days and the average compensation paid to a customer to alleviate the consequences of an accident is EUR 600. For children, the treatment is slightly shorter, 34 days, and the average compensation is about EUR 250. When we look at the trend of claims, it can be noted that in the past ten years the average treatment period for children has grown by five days while the average compensation has risen by 1.5%,” says Indrek Holst, Chairman of the Management Board at AS SEB Elu- ja Pensionikindlustus.

More than half of the clients who enter into a life insurance contract also take extra cover in the case of temporary incapacity for work as a result of an accident. Last year, SEB Elu- ja Pensionikindlustus paid out indemnities for temporary incapacity for work for 359 accidents in the amount of EUR 160,000. It is good to know that insurance indemnity claims rejected under life insurance contracts were a rare occurrence – last year, only 5% of all applications were dismissed. The main reasons for rejection are: absence of insurance cover, loss of capacity for work is not the result of an accident, or the insurance event is precluded by the contract. Thus, it is very important for a customer to understand, when entering into a contract for life insurance, what kind of insurance coverage is needed, what is included within the insurance coverage, and what the exclusions are.

For more information:

Evelin Allas
Communications Manager
Marketing and Communications Division
SEB

Phone +372 665 5649
Mobile +372 511 1718
Address Tornimäe 2, 15010 Tallinn
E-mail evelin.allas@seb.ee
www.seb.ee

Read our news feed on Twitter www.twitter.com/SEB_Eesti
Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/seb.eesti
View the video archive on YouTube www.youtube.com/user/sebeestivideo