Research Publications

This study is based upon bodily injury liability closed claim data from 1997. The report examines the nature and key characteristics of motor vehicle accidents and claimants with respect to four key areas: 1) the characteristics of the accident in terms of location, impact severity, number of vehicles involved, point of impact, police involvement and when the accident occurred; 2) the characteristics of the driver of the insured vehicle; 3) the characteristics of the insured vehicle; and 4) the characteristics of the claimant.

While the number of auto accidents with property damage claims declined in the last two decades, the number of bodily injury claims increased. This report examines the frequency and severity of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury protection claims from 1980 through 1998 countrywide and by individual state. Territories within states are investigated for the period of 1995 through1997. In addition, Trends in Auto Injury Claims provides information on the bodily injury to property damage claims ratio, average loss costs, and average written liability premiums. Charts and graphs of observed trends are included as well as detailed tables of the data compiled from major statistical reporting agencies and state insurance departments; all organized in a permanent binder.

This study of over 87,000 auto injury claims examines: types, variety, and severity of injuries; treatment of injuries; economic losses and insurance payments; attorney representation; and economic impact of attorney representation and its effect on timeliness of settlement. Injuries in Auto Accidents contains 90 tables, graphs, and charts that together with the text clearly depict the findings of this investigation. In addition, there are 38 supplementary tables in an accompanying appendix. This study contains comparative findings from similar studies conducted in 1992, 1987, and 1977, presenting a 20-year window of data. Also available: 1992 closed claim study Auto Injuries: Claiming Behavior and Its Impact on Insurance Costs, September 1994, 126 pages; 1987 close claimed and consumer panel study, Compensation for Automobile Injuries in the United States, March 1989, 187 pages; and closed claim study, Automobile Injuries and Their Compensation in the United States, March 1979, 254 pages plus 409 pages of tables in Vol. II.

Auto injury claims are increasing sharply in many states, despite a drop in the number of property damage accidents. Part One of this report explores this continuing trend, showing variations over time, among states, and among territories. Part Two documents the total cost of injuries paid by auto insurance and examines the cost of injuries relative to property damage liability by state. Available appendices include claim frequency, claim severity and average loss cost data for each state from 1980-1995, and provide comparative data on every territory in the U.S. for a more limited period of time.