Super Bowl will up claims

US insurers expect a massive rise in claims from crashing pizza delivery staff during Super Bowl Sunday as pizza sales rise by as much as 50% for the day, Bloomberg reports.

“There are definitely more accidents,” said Rick Lindsey, chief executive officer at Prime Insurance. based in Salt Lake City. “The jump in claims is directly related to the jump in deliveries.”

Domino’s Pizza expects to sell 9 million slices on game night, 44% more than a typical Sunday, said spokesman Chris Brandon. Pizza Hut, the largest US pizza chain, expects a 50% sales increase.

Dangerous occupation

Pizza delivery is part of a driving-occupation group that ranks as the ninth-most dangerous work segment, just below roofers and power-line repairers, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 22.8 fatalities in the group per 100,000 full-time workers in 2008.

Fireman’s Fund Insurance, a unit of Munich-based Allianz, underwrites as much as 20% of US pizza delivery policies, said spokeswoman Suzanne Meraz. Claims will rise “just because there are so many more pizzas being delivered on Super Bowl day,” she said.