Like to live life on the edge? Find yourself spending your free time jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, wrestling alligators for fun, or doing other extreme activities your mom would never approve of? Well as Murphy astutely proclaimed, "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong". So just in case that parachute never opens, that alligator gets the best of you, or you break every bone in your body from some other stunt, you should probably consider purchasing Dangerous Sports Insurance. Whether a professional extreme sports star or just an amateur, it’s always good to have coverage. Many major insurance companies have a Dangerous Sports Insurance policy, and there are also stand alone companies who deal exclusively in this area. Check with each company to find out exactly which activities they cover, but most cover any type of motor sport, rock climbing, skydiving, water sports, and any aviation activity that’s deemed a sport.
Landing Parachute by Thomas Claveirole
Will THAT be covered?
Just like with auto insurance there are different types of coverage. At a minimum be sure to check out personal accident coverage and third party liability coverage. Personal accident coverage takes care of medical expenses and hospitalization costs in the event of an injury from any of the crazy activities you enjoy (those that are covered specifically in your policy that is). If the injury is so sever that you are out of work for an extended period of time, certain policies will cover financial assistance. Third party liability coverage takes care of you in case someone else gets injured as a consequence of your activity. It will pay for their medical expenses as well as an legal fees for yourself in case of a liability claim. These are just the basics. There is also coverage available for foreign travel, coverage for lost or damaged equipment, and God forbid, life insurance.
How To Get What’s Owed
If you are in fact injured during the course of one of your extreme hobbies, check the policy for procedures on filing a claim. Make sure to read carefully and check that the exact activity you were enjoying is in face covered. Many activities come with exceptions and exclusions so read the policy thoroughly. A claim for benefits can be denied by your insurance company for several reasons:
- If the specific event that injured you is not covered
- If an investigation by the insurance company shows that the injury is unfounded
- If the policyholder lies or gives false details
All dismissals by the insurance company can be contested. But don’t let this stop you. If you are an extreme sports junkie, make sure to buy Dangerous Sports Insurance.