If the damage wasn't reported at the airport before leaving it used to be airline policy to decline to pay out as the damage might have occurred after any handling by the airline, i.e. it might have fallen off the trolley on the way to the car, been dropped whilst loading into the car etc.
Unfortunately there are many people in the world who look to abuse the systems set up to take care of genuine problems. I can remember 2 x German passengers trying to persuade the GHA at STN that 3 small scratches on a suitcase meant it was wrecked. It was perfectly serviceable and not broken in any way but they wanted a replacement.
One major factor to bear in mind is that your bag handle is most at risk of breakage when it is being dragged off a moving conveyor for loading onto/off a baggage dolley or into a baggage container. If you have stuffed it full and the weight is too much this is the moment when they can seperate from the bag.
It fair boggles the mind to see how people pack bags so the locks/handles/fabric are under strain before they have left their homes and are then surprised when the bag fails with the manual handling at the airport.