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New Report on Sprain and Strain Auto Accident Victims

29 June 2000

IRC Releases New Report on Sprain and Strain Auto Accident Victims

    MALVERN, Pa. - A new Insurance Research Council (IRC) report entitled 
Sprains and Strains Resulting From Auto Accidents: An Analysis of Auto Insurance 
Claims, revealed that auto accident claimants with low injury severity who were 
represented by attorneys demonstrated greater use of medical treatment compared 
to nonrepresented claimants with similar injuries.

    Of 44,000 bodily injury liability claims closed in 1997 (the most recent
year for which information is available), segments of similarly injured
represented and nonrepresented auto accident claimants were identified for
further study.  These groups included claimants with 1) sprains and strains as
their only injuries, 2) no disabilities, 3) fewer than 10 days of restricted
activity, and 4) limited physical damage to their cars as a result of their
accidents.

    Represented claimants, on average, were more likely to seek treatment from
medical practitioners and had higher average numbers of visits to practitioners.  
Not surprisingly, the reported medical bills incurred by represented claimants 
were higher, on average, compared to those of nonrepresented claimants.

    Elizabeth A. Sprinkel, senior vice president of the IRC said, "Documenting
the increased use of medical treatment among represented claimants with mild
injuries is significant."

    For more detailed information on the methodology and findings of Sprains
and Strains Resulting From Auto Accidents: An Analysis of Auto Insurance
Claims, contact Elizabeth Sprinkel by phone at 610-644-2212, ext. 7568; by fax
at 610-640-5388; or by e-mail at irc@cpcuiia.org .  Copies of the study are available for $25 each in the U.S.
($35 elsewhere) postpaid from the Insurance Research Council, 718 Providence
Rd., Malvern, Pa. 19355-0725.  Phone: 610-644-2212, ext. 7569.  Fax:
610-640-5388.