High 10 craziest insurance coverage claims ever reported

Insurance coverage corporations take care of numerous claims every year, so it’s not stunning to come back upon one thing that’s downright unbelievable. On this article, Insurance coverage Enterprise seems again at among the craziest insurance coverage claims ever reported. We’ll dig deeper into these circumstances and learn the way they unraveled. We can even do some fact-checking to see if these claims are certainly true.

Right here’s our prime 10 checklist of the silliest, funniest, and weirdest insurance coverage claims ever made.

1.  Between a cow and a really darkish place

It’s exhausting to separate folks from their telephones these days. That’s why it’s very often that you simply hear tales of ridiculous methods folks break or lose their beloved handsets.

This story from a livestock farmer from Devon, UK landed on prime of a specialist cell insurers checklist of the weirdest insurance coverage claims in 2012. 

The farmer was utilizing the torch function of his iPhone one darkish stormy evening, aiding his cow whereas calving when the cellphone disappeared. He claimed that he had misplaced his cellphone contained in the cow. The cellphone was discovered later – no point out of the place and the way – but it surely was broken past restore. The declare was profitable because the insurer agreed to cowl the complete price to interchange the farmer’s iPhone.

2. Burglar wins $1 million declare in opposition to owners

Think about {that a} robber enters your property when you’re on trip and will get trapped till you come every week later. In an audacious act, the robber sues you for psychological anguish ensuing from their expertise. That’s what allegedly occurred to some in Pennsylvania.

The couple went on a week-long trip when a burglar broke into their dwelling. The burglar then tried to flee via the storage, however the storage door wouldn’t open, locking him in. Trapped, the robber was compelled to eat pet food and soda, the one edible issues he might discover. He was solely in a position to get out when the couple returned. After that, the robber filed a $1 million lawsuit in opposition to them for psychological anguish and received. 

Makes your blood boil, proper? It could mine – if it had been true.

Apparently, it’s not. Curious in regards to the proliferation of such tales, a Georgia-based private harm regulation agency investigated the validity of those circumstances. The agency discovered that these tales had been simply a part of an e mail marketing campaign created to spotlight discussions on the seventh Modification and associated authorized points.

3. Bat poop! Na na na na na na na na…

What’s worse than discovering a foot of bat poop masking your attic ground? It’s discovering two ft of bat poop masking your attic ground.

An Ottawa couple’s dream dwelling turns into a nightmare once they found a bat infestation in a sealed attic. A specialist confirmed that the bats had been residing there for many years. Worse, the bats have accrued a foot or two – three or 4 in some locations – of poop, which has seeped via the ceiling and partitions. The scenario was so dire that the home wanted an entire rebuild.

After initially refusing to offer protection, the couple’s dwelling insurance coverage firm agreed to pay for the rebuild of the complete dwelling. Glad this one has a cheerful ending.

4. Lifeless man climbing

In 2000, Australian millionaire Harry Gordon tried to get a AU$3.5 million payout from his life insurance coverage coverage by faking his personal dying. With assist from his spouse, Sheila, and daughter, Josaphine, they cashed in on the declare. Harry then used the cash to start out a brand new life in New Zealand. There, he met his second spouse.

The scenario unraveled after Harry and his new spouse ran into his brother, Michael, on a climbing journey in Tauranga. Michael then advised Sheila about Harry’s new spouse and that’s when issues escalated shortly.

Authorities later uncovered the fraud. Harry was arrested and pleaded responsible to conspiring to acquire cash by deception, amongst different expenses. He was sentenced to fifteen months in jail. Later, he went on to put in writing a e-book aptly titled How I Faked My Personal Demise and Did Not Get Away with It.

5. Cigarson

Subsequent on our checklist of the craziest insurance coverage claims is that from a North Carolina lawyer who insured his field of uncommon and costly cigar in opposition to fireplace. After smoking all of the cigars, the lawyer filed a declare in opposition to his insurer, saying the cigars had been destroyed “in a collection of small fires.” Unsurprisingly, the insurance coverage firm denied the declare, arguing he simply smoked all of the cigars. The lawyer then sued and received. The decide dominated that the insurer didn’t outline within the coverage what an “unacceptable fireplace” can be.

Fairly than undergo the expensive technique of an enchantment, the insurance coverage firm paid the $15,000 settlement. It then sued the lawyer for twenty-four counts of arson, which incorporates deliberately burning insured property. The lawyer was convicted and sentenced to 2 years in jail and ordered to pay a wonderful.

However is that this story true? The case was mentioned to be a first-place winner within the “Felony Legal professionals Award Contest.” We did an intensive web search in regards to the contest however didn’t discover something. It’s additionally uncertain that any insurer would insure a cigar in opposition to fireplace. So, it’s in all probability simply an city legend circulating for years.

6. Straight out of Three Stooges

A cooking accident that appeared straight out of a slapstick film raised alarm bells for a Delaware dwelling insurance coverage firm. Nicholas Di Puma claimed {that a} kitchen mishap brought about his home and automobile to go up in smoke.

In response to this report, Di Puma tried to place out the flame from a burning pan with a dishrag, but it surely additionally caught fireplace. He then took the pan and threw it out of his entrance door. Sadly, it landed on the backseat of his automobile setting it ablaze. A second pan additionally caught fireplace however as he was about to throw it out, he tripped over a field and the pan landed on his leather-based couch. This immediately ignited the chair. 

Authorities clearly weren’t satisfied. The presiding decide described the occasions “just like the plot of a Three Stooges film.” Di Puma pleaded responsible to tried insurance coverage fraud. He was sentenced to 5 years of probation and ordered to pay a $38,000 wonderful.

7. Rooftop parking

Farmers Insurance coverage is thought for its collection of Corridor of Claims marketing campaign, which reveals among the craziest insurance coverage claims it has handled. In one of many commercials, the insurer shares a declare involving a automobile that landed on the rooftop of a home. The insurer didn’t share many particulars however in accordance with Professor Burke, the marketing campaign’s major character, the declare was lined.

8. Shiver me dentures

Who would have thought journey insurance coverage would cowl your false enamel? A pensioner on a cruise did. The person misplaced his dentures whereas vomiting over the aspect of the cruise ship resulting from sea illness. He then filed a declare underneath the misplaced baggage portion of his coverage, which considers dentures as private baggage. His insurer complied and paid for a brand new set of dentures. 

9. Watch out for thieving monkeys

There have been a number of claims involving vacationers who’ve fallen sufferer to thieving monkeys, significantly in Southeast Asia the place these primates usually roam free. Most have been lined by journey insurance coverage. However among the many craziest insurance coverage claims involving monkeys was in all probability that of a pair touring in Malaysia. 

The couple had their baggage stolen by a troop of monkeys, scattering its contents in a close-by rainforest. This left a path of t-shirts, clothes, and underwear. Luckily, their journey insurance coverage protection included “theft by monkey.”

Here is a video on why it is best to watch out for thieving monkeys.

10. Oh, hail no!

Again within the Nineteen Nineties, Kentucky-based Hyland Insurance coverage acquired a suspicious declare for a hail-damage automobile. The adjuster who inspected the injury was skeptical as a result of the spherical divots that peppered the automobile’s whole floor had been completely symmetrical. The insurer rejected the declare on the grounds that the automobile was deliberately broken utilizing a ball-peen hammer.

You’d assume the unscrupulous shopper would cease there after being caught red-handed trying insurance coverage fraud – however no. Relentless, the person filed a police report claiming somebody broken his automobile with a ball-preen hammer. He then submitted a brand new declare. As a result of Hyland couldn’t show that the injury was intentional, they had been compelled to settle the declare.

Insurance coverage brokers deal with lots of if not 1000’s of claims every year. When you discover coping with a majority of these circumstances thrilling, then that is the profession for you. Take a look at our step-by-step information on grow to be an insurance coverage agent if you wish to be one. 

Automotive insurance coverage claims

For claims involving automobile accidents, whoever receives the verify depends upon the kind of declare and who’s at fault. If the policyholder causes an accident and information a legal responsibility declare, the opposite driver will obtain the cost. For collision claims, the automobile insurance coverage firm covers the price to restore the policyholder’s automobile.

House insurance coverage declare

As soon as the insurance coverage adjuster has accomplished their evaluation, the insurer settles the verify relying on the kind of protection:

Precise price worth

That is the place the cost is predicated on the estimated price of rebuilding the house based mostly on its present market worth.

Alternative price worth

This sort of coverage covers the general price of repairing or rebuilding the house to the identical customary.

If the house is underneath a mortgage, the insurer will probably ship a verify to each the home-owner and the lender. Most mortgage agreements observe this association to guard the lender’s pursuits.

The insurance coverage firm usually releases part of the payout earlier than development or restore begins. This permits the policyholder to rent a contractor. The insurer then releases more cash as the development progresses and makes the complete cost as soon as the house is rebuilt and passes the inspection.

Life insurance coverage claims

Life insurance coverage supplies a tax-free lump-sum cost to the policyholder’s household after their dying. The payout can be utilized to repay loans and money owed and meet each day residing bills.

Life insurance coverage protection is available in a number of variations however typically falls into two classes:

Time period life insurance coverage

This coverage pays a said quantity if the insured dies inside a specified interval.

Everlasting life insurance coverage

This coverage supplies assured lifetime protection. Some insurance policies supply a money worth ingredient that builds up over time. This can be utilized as collateral if the policyholder decides to borrow.

Life insurance coverage plan holders should designate an individual to obtain the dying profit, additionally known as the beneficiary. This may be the insured’s:

• partner
• speedy household
• different family
• mates
• enterprise companions
• charitable group

Policyholders can title a number of beneficiaries and assign how a lot profit every particular person or group will obtain.

Medical insurance claims

Well being insurers usually verify first if the service is roofed underneath the plan. In addition they confirm different vital particulars of the coverage. These embody copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums the policyholder might have paid all through the coverage time period.

If the service is roofed, the insurer sends the cost to the physician or the medical service supplier. The insurance coverage firm might also reimburse a component or the complete price of a service, relying on the coverage.

In insurance policies that require the policyholders to submit the claims themselves, plan holders might must pay for the service upfront and anticipate a reimbursement.

Sage recommendation that insurance coverage brokers give their purchasers is to be good about what they declare. If the price of the injury is much less or simply barely over the deductible quantity, it may not make sense to file a declare. Deductibles are there to forestall insurers from getting numerous small and low-value claims.

As an insurance coverage agent, it’s greatest to speak to your purchasers about their insurance policies lengthy earlier than they even must file a declare. You might also be obligated to report discussions a couple of potential declare to the insurer even when your shopper chooses to not file. It’s because it will possibly replicate the possibility of a danger taking place, which has an affect on premiums.

Preserve abreast of the newest developments within the insurance coverage claims course of in our Claims Information Part. You should definitely bookmark this web page to entry breaking information and the newest business updates.

What do you consider our checklist of the craziest insurance coverage claims? As an insurance coverage agent, what’s the weirdest insurance coverage declare that you simply’ve dealt with? We’d like to see your story under.