According to The Guardian, the number of VR-related insurance claims in the UK increased by 31% in 2021. The data comes from insurer Aviva, which told ukling media that VR-related claims are on the rise, with a sharp spike in 2021. The number of people violently attacking and vandalizing valuable furniture or televisions has increased dramatically.
According to Kelly Whittington, director of Aviva UK, this is a general trend with the popularity of some new entertainment products. In the past, this similar trend was evident, including with mobile games, fitness games, and even fidget spinners.
According to Aviva, VR-related insurance claims have increased by 68% since 2016. The most common narrative is that people are frantically moving around while playing VR games, trying to defeat zombies, aliens, or other players, resulting in damage to TVs and other valuables. The average virtual reality-related claim is about $922.
Aviva reminds people to be more careful when playing VR and make sure the surrounding area is empty. At the same time, it also recommends that people add accidental damage insurance to their home insurance plans. Aviva also said that with the continuous hot sales of Oculus Quest 2, VR-related publicity has increased in 2022, and more people understand this area. As VR becomes cheaper and more popular, it's likely that more people will break or kick something while having fun.
