ANALYSIS of thousands of insurance claims has shown that one in 10 company car drivers file one because they have hit a stationary object.

Research by vehicle management company LeasePlan shows the most common objects hit are bollards, walls or parked cars.

The company analysed more than 230 fleets and found the average repair cost of each claim was about £855.

For fleets, LeasePlan says the costs could run into thousands of pounds extra for those who self-insure their fleets and rocketing insurance premiums for those who use an outside insurance provider.

Sarah Easton, head of managed services at LeasePlan UK, said: ‘By their nature, accidents are difficult to predict and so many companies see them as an unavoidable cost of business.

‘However, these figures show that a high proportion of accidents involve simple driver errors – errors which could be avoided through steps such as more effective driver training.’

LeasePlan has launched a new product called SafePlan which involves the company working with a client and recommending which services will be best for its current fleet.