Claims severity, which relates to the size of the average claim payment, was restrained from 2002 through the early 2010s, according to the Insurance Research Council. However, claims severity began accelerating in the mid-2010s and skyrocketed during the pandemic as drivers became more reckless and inflation accelerated. Credit: Raychel Lean/ALM Claims severity, which relates to the size of the average claim payment, was restrained from 2002 through the early 2010s, according to the Insurance Research Council. However, claims severity began accelerating in the mid-2010s and skyrocketed during the pandemic as drivers became more reckless and inflation accelerated. Credit: Raychel Lean/ALM

Since the mid-2010s, U.S. auto claims frequency and severity have been on divergent paths. The former has "plummeted" during the past two decades, according to the Insurance Research Council (IRC), while claims severity has been increasing sharply.

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Steve Hallo

Steve Hallo is managing editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. He can be reached at [email protected]

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