Our life insurance attorneys successfully recovered a $155,000 death benefit after the insurer denied the claim based on an alleged Act of God exclusion. The insured died during a flood, and the insurance company argued that the death fell outside coverage due to natural disaster related limitations in the policy. After a detailed policy analysis and legal challenge, we proved that the exclusion did not apply and secured full payment for the beneficiary.
This case illustrates how insurers sometimes misuse vague or outdated disaster related exclusions to deny otherwise valid life insurance claims.
Can a Life Insurance Claim Be Denied Due to an Act of God?
In most cases, life insurance policies do not exclude deaths caused by Acts of God such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, or wildfires. Unlike property insurance, life insurance generally covers death regardless of cause unless the policy contains a clear and enforceable exclusion.
An insurer cannot deny a life insurance claim simply because the death occurred during a natural disaster. To deny coverage, the insurer must point to a specific exclusion that clearly applies to the circumstances of the death.
How Insurers Misuse Act of God Language
Some policies contain older or poorly drafted language referencing natural disasters, environmental hazards, or extraordinary events. Insurers may attempt to stretch this language to justify denial even when:
The policy does not expressly exclude floods or natural disasters
The exclusion is vague or undefined
The exclusion applies only to property damage, not death
The policy language conflicts with the insuring clause
Courts generally require exclusions to be written clearly and narrowly. If the language is ambiguous, it is interpreted in favor of coverage.
In the Equitable AXA case, the insurer relied on a loosely worded exclusion that did not specifically bar coverage for flood related deaths. Once the policy was reviewed as a whole, the denial could not be legally justified.
Natural Disasters Versus Policy Lapse Arguments
In some disaster related cases, insurers attempt to deny claims indirectly by arguing that the policy lapsed due to missed premium payments following a catastrophe. While natural disasters can disrupt finances and communications, insurers must still comply with:
Grace period requirements
Proper lapse notices
Any disaster related extensions required by law
If a policy was in force at the time of death, a subsequent disaster does not retroactively void coverage.
Can Participation in a Riot or Civil Disturbance Affect Coverage?
Life insurance policies sometimes include exclusions for deaths occurring during criminal activity, riots, or civil disturbances. Insurers may attempt to apply these exclusions broadly, even when the insured was not engaged in unlawful conduct.
A denial based on riot or civil disturbance may be challenged when:
The insured was not participating in illegal activity
The exclusion is vague or undefined
The insured was a bystander or attempting to flee danger
The policy does not clearly define riot participation
Presence alone is not enough. The insurer must show that the insured was actively engaged in excluded conduct.
How We Challenged the Equitable AXA Denial
Our analysis focused on:
The exact wording of the alleged Act of God exclusion
Whether floods were expressly excluded
How the exclusion interacted with the main coverage grant
Whether the insurer’s interpretation conflicted with settled insurance law
Once these issues were raised, the insurer could not defend the denial under a fair reading of the policy. The full $155,000 death benefit was paid.
When Act of God and Civil Disturbance Denials Can Be Overturned
These denials are often reversible when:
The exclusion is vague or outdated
The policy does not clearly exclude the event
The insurer relies on broad or implied language
The insured was not engaged in illegal conduct
The policyholder reasonably expected coverage
Beneficiaries are often told these denials are final. They rarely are.
Help With Denied Life Insurance Claims Involving Disasters or Civil Unrest
Insurers sometimes use extraordinary events as an excuse to deny payment, assuming beneficiaries will not challenge complex policy language. That assumption is often wrong.
Our firm focuses exclusively on denied life insurance claims nationwide. We regularly overturn denials based on Acts of God, natural disasters, civil disturbances, and misapplied exclusions.
We offer free consultations and handle all cases on a contingency basis. There are no fees unless benefits are recovered.