Short answer: usually no, an animal attack by itself does not result in a denied life insurance claim. Most life insurance policies cover accidental deaths, and an unexpected animal attack almost always qualifies as accidental. That said, there are a few situations where insurers try to deny or dispute these claims.
Here is how insurers look at animal attack deaths in the real world.
When an animal attack is typically covered
In the vast majority of cases, a fatal animal attack is treated the same as any other accidental death. This includes:
• Dog attacks
• Snake bites
• Shark attacks
• Bear or cougar attacks
• Livestock or farm animal incidents
If the policy was in force and premiums were paid, insurers generally must pay the death benefit.
Situations where insurers may try to deny the claim
Although the cause of death alone is rarely enough to deny coverage, insurers sometimes look for other policy provisions to rely on.
Policy exclusions
Some policies contain exclusions tied to dangerous activities, occupations, or illegal acts. The insurer may argue that the death falls within one of those exclusions, even if the exclusion does not mention animals specifically.
Illegal activity at the time of death
If the insured was trespassing, poaching, hunting illegally, or otherwise committing a crime when the attack occurred, insurers often rely on criminal activity exclusions to justify a denial.
Intentional or reckless conduct
If the insurer claims the insured intentionally provoked the animal or knowingly placed themselves in extreme danger, they may argue the death was not accidental. These arguments are common but often weak and very fact dependent.
Misrepresentation on the application
If the insured failed to disclose a high risk occupation or activity involving animals during underwriting, and the death occurred during that activity, the insurer may claim material misrepresentation. This is most common during the first two years of the policy.
Contestability period issues
If the death occurs within the contestability period, insurers scrutinize the application more aggressively and look for any reason to rescind the policy, even if the animal attack itself had nothing to do with the alleged omission.
Important point beneficiaries should know
Life insurance policies do not usually contain blanket animal attack exclusions. Denials are almost always based on something else, such as alleged illegal activity, dangerous conduct, or application issues. Many animal attack denials are overturned once the facts and policy language are examined closely.
What to do if the claim is denied
If a life insurance claim is denied after an animal attack:
• Request the full policy and written denial explanation
• Identify exactly which exclusion the insurer is relying on
• Compare the exclusion language to the actual facts
• Do not assume the denial is correct
These cases are often winnable, especially when insurers stretch exclusions beyond what the policy actually says.