Life insurance will almost always pay out, no matter how stupid the manner of death
Life insurance covers the stupidest Britons
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2007 12:38
No matter how stupid and reckless policyholders are in getting themselves killed, new research shows life insurance will almost always pay out.
Protection specialist LifeSearch investigated five of the most ridiculous ways people have died in the last few years, and in every case concluded if they had had a life insurance policy it would have paid out.
"As long as there is no non-disclosure (e.g. failing to disclose a dangerous occupation like stuntman) or participation in a criminal act (e.g. trespassing), the five cases of accidental death would pay out, regardless of the obvious danger or foolishness of the person's behaviour," said Matt Morris, LifeSearch policy adviser.
"If you decide to get up one day and do something incredibly dangerous or dumb, you're still covered."
Examples examined
Niagara Falls stunt
In 1993 Robert Overacker decided to ride a jet ski downriver and over the edge of the Niagara Falls. His plan was to jump away from the jet ski after he had gone over the edge and release a parachute. The parachute was released as planned and floated gently to the river, but it was not tied to Robert's body.
The life office says: the claim would be paid. But if his occupation or hobby was a stuntman, or if he were planning the stunt when taking out cover, then an exclusion may have been applied. It is possible he would need a permit to do this and, if it was a criminal act, no payment would be made.
Powerful gardening tools
In the US state of Oregon in 2001 a resident lost control of his truck and knocked down high-voltage power lines. He then climbed out of his vehicle with a pair of pruning shears in his hand, reached up, and tried to clip the 7,500-volt cable lying across his truck. He was found face-down on the power line with the pruning shears still in his hands. His passenger survived.
The life office says: as long as there was no non-disclosure and he was not doing anything illegal life insurance would be paid.
Bee safe
In 2002, a farm keeper from Sao Paulo, Brazil, tried to remove a beehive from a tree. He knew the hive should be burned and that bees sting, so he protected his head from smoke and stings with a plastic bag sealed tightly around his neck and went off to fight the bees. He was found a few hours later, suffocated, having forgotten to include air holes in the plastic bag.
The life office says: this would be paid.
Winning a lady's favour
In 2004, two Taiwanese students decided to ride their motor scooters at each other in a high-speed "joust" to decide who would win exclusive rights to pursue a special girl. Their scooters collided head-on at 50 mph. The lady in question later said she "wasn't interested in either of them".
The life office says: the claim would be paid.
Blown away
In 2002, a young man decided to ignore a locked gate and signs reading "Hazardous Conditions. Do Not Go Beyond This Point" and play in the Halona Blowhole in Hawaii. This natural rock funnel shoots seawater 20 feet into the air. Dozens watched from a highway while he straddled the blowhole, arms outstretched, laughing while spray washed over him. Then a larger wave hit, blasted him five feet into the air and dropped him headfirst into the blowhole. His body was recovered by divers the next day.
The life office says: the claim would be paid although, fortunately, we rarely see claims of this type.