Analysis by J.D. Power and Associates indicates that consumer satisfaction with auto insurance claims was stable during the fourth quarter of 2011, Property Casualty 360 reports.

The quarter was marked by an increase of claims, according to the report, which researchers attributed to weather-related damage. The quarterly Auto Claims Satisfaction Study scored customer satisfaction at 855 out of a possible 1,000, slightly up from the third and second quarter scores of 845 and 848.

This was considered notable, the source reports, because repairs took an average of about a day longer due to increased volume. Senior director of insurance practice Jeremy Bowler attributed this partly to good communication between coverage providers and consumers, remarking that customers tend to respond better when informed throughout the auto insurance claims process.

Customer satisfaction increased with claims filed through call centers and with auto insurance agents, researchers noted, indicating that which way a consumer prefers to file seems to vary between individuals. Bowler speculated that improved use of technology might be a factor in the increased customer satisfaction for those dealing directly with carriers.