Insurance claims jump 31% as more gamers using VR headsets crash into furniture and smash TV screens, a report says

• The VR headset craze has led insurance claims to spike as more gamers break furniture, per The Guardian.
• An average claim for accidental VR headset damage in 2021 was $882, insurance firm Aviva told the publication.

A rise in the use of VR headsets caused a 31% spike in insurance claims linked to use of the technology last year, with gamers breaking furniture and cracking TV screens, The Guardian reported.

VR headsets have become more popular over the past few years amid the arrival of new digital games and platforms such as the metaverse.

Aviva, a UK insurance company, told The Guardian that the number of home contents claims involving VR headsets has jumped 68% since 2016.

The average claim for accidental damage as a result of VR headset use last year was around £650 ($882), Aviva told the paper.

One customer wearing a VR headset smashed his TV after a zombie appeared to jump out at him in the game, whilst in another incident, a child broke two designer ornaments after performing a "swipe" move.

Both claims were approved and settled, Aviva told The Guardian.

The rising trend in VR-related claims has continued into 2022, according to the report, after many people received the headsets over Christmas.

"These devices can be a great source of fun, but we'd encourage people to be mindful of their surroundings and take a look at their home insurance to make sure it suits their needs," Kelly Whittington, Aviva's property claims director, told The Guardian.

Aviva didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.