The number of Homeowners' insurance claims from lightning strikes in the U.S. fell in 2015. However, a new analysis by the New York City-based Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.)found that the total insurers paid on claims—$790 million to nearly 100,000 policyholders—rose by nearly 7%.
I.I.I. and Bloomington, Ill.-based State Farm analyzed Homeowners' insurance data for claims from lightning strikes and found:
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Total insured losses from lightning rose 6.9% from 2014 to 2015, although losses have declined 23.6% overall since 2010.
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There were 99,423 insurer-paid lightning claims in 2015, down 0.4% from 2014.
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The average lightning claim paid 7.4% more than a year ago: $7,947 in 2015, vs. $7,400.
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The average cost per claim rose 64% from 2010 to 2015. By comparison, the Consumer Price Index rose 9% in the same period.
Leading states for claims
"The average cost per claim is volatile from year to year," said James Lynch, FCAS MAAA, vice president of information services and chief actuary for the I.I.I., "but it has generally continued to rise, in part because of the enormous increase in the number and value of consumer electronics, including increasingly popular home automation systems."
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Rosalie Donlon
Rosalie Donlon is the editor in chief of ALM's insurance and tax publications, including NU Property & Casualty magazine and NU PropertyCasualty360.com. You can contact her at [email protected].
