By Emma Sword
An increase in household and motor claims has already been seen by insurers during the recent cold snap, an industry body has said.
The Association of British Insurers said some the industry paid out some £650 million last year, largely due to damage caused by burst pipes, but said it was still too early to estimate this year's bill following the freezing conditions.
A large number of motorists have reported hitting kerbs, walls and lampposts as the snow and ice has blanketed the UK, while three people lodged a claim after being in collision with a police car and the same amount had a freak collision with a snow plough.
Lloyds TSB Insurance also reported seeing a "dramatic increase" in home insurance claims as a result of the bad weather, with a seven-fold increase in claims for damage caused by burst pipes.
AA Insurance said it had seen a 23% rise in motor insurance claims as a result of the freeze, with damage most likely to have been caused by collisions in moving traffic, followed by accidents with unattended parked cars.
