Children's games can result in tens of thousands of euros in damages – insurance company lists the most common accidents
Every year, Pohjola Insurance pays out compensation for thousands of accidents caused by children. Insurance statistics reveal the kinds of mishaps children get into and the amounts of damage they cause. The most costly type of accident is water damage, which can lead to significant destruction in an apartment building.
Children's games can cause a headache for parents, and accidents are sometimes unavoidable. Every year, Pohjola Insurance receives thousands of insurance claims for property damage caused by children.
The average compensation paid for damage caused by children is around 600 euros, and the accidents come in all shapes and sizes. Most accidents are minor and involve damaged and broken household items, but in more serious cases, children's games have caused tens of thousands of euros in damages.
"The most typical cause of major accidents is water damage: the child leaves the water running and blocks the sink, resulting in significant damage in no time at all. At worst, the water can leak to other apartments in the building and exponentially cause more damage," says Sini Kujala, Claims Team Manager at Pohjola Insurance.
Many kinds of minor damage are commonplace in families. A typical accident is a soiled sofa, bed or carpet when there are children sick with stomach flu in the house. At times, children's games can get a little too imaginative and rowdy:
"It seems that many families have little artists who enjoy decorating the walls, furniture and floor. The TV is also a frequent casualty in children's games," says Kujala.
Insurance may also compensate damage caused intentionally by a child
Cars are also among the targets of damage by children. Dents and scrapes can be caused by a child hitting the car with a bike or scratching it by accident, but sometimes intentionally, too. As a general rule, insurance does not cover damage caused intentionally, but children under 12 are an exception.
"Playing and trying things are an important part of childhood, and children cannot always judge the consequences of their actions. In the case of small children, insurance also covers damage caused intentionally," Kujala says.
Kujala also points out that in the case of damage caused to parties not living in the same household, compensation can be claimed from liability insurance.
"During the difficult financial situation in recent years, many people have cut back on insurance cover. However, liability insurance is not something that should be skipped. Liability insurance is necessary in cases where the child damages the neighbour's car while kicking a football around, for example – not to mention more serious accidents.
Media enquiries:
OP Financial Group Communications, tel. 010 252 8719, viestinta@op.fi
Pohjola Insurance is Finland’s leading non-life insurer with a total of 2.5 million private and corporate customers. It provides an extensive range of non-life insurance services to private, corporate and institutional clients. Pohjola Insurance is part of OP Financial Group which is Finland's largest financial services group.