March 1, 2002—Accidental damage continues to be the No. 1 cause of loss among personal computer owners, according to a new insurance industry study. Most of these accidents are due to owner negligence. The trends in damage and loss claims among PC users are essentially unchanged over the past three years, according to Safeware, The Insurance Agency, Inc. Theft and power surge are the second and third major causes of loss.
Safeware, a member of Assurant Group, said an analysis of personal computer claims filed in 2001 showed that 59% resulted from accidental damage, up from 56% in 2000 and 49% in 1999. The increase was attributed to the growing popularity of notebook PCs, especially among students and business professionals. Notebook claims rose 70% in 2001 and accounted for about 96% of claims handled by the company.
“Human error continues to be the main cause of accidental damage,” said Donald F. Strejeck, president of Safeware. “For example, water claims filed among students soared last year, mostly due to a sharp rise in incidents where students accidentally spilled a liquid on a PC.”
Other highlights of the 2001 Safeware loss study include:
- Thefts, while growing in actual number, accounted for a smaller percentage of claims in 2001 – 25% versus 27% in 2000 and 28% in 1999.
- Desktop PC losses were down approximately 19% from 2000. “Desktops are less vulnerable to accidental damage, and less popular among students and everyday users,” Strejeck said.
- Approximately 2.4 million PC owners in 2001 incurred equipment damage or loss that could have resulted in an insurance claim.
Safeware’s annual loss statistics are projected from actual reported claims by the company’s national client base. For more information about insurance coverage for computers and peripherals, visit Safeware or call 800/800-1492.
