Lincoln Financial Life Insurance Claim Denial Successfully Resolved
Our life insurance law firm is pleased to announce the successful resolution of a Lincoln Financial Life Insurance claim that had been initially denied. The insurer cited unusual policy exclusions related to hazardous activity, but our attorneys were able to challenge the denial, present compelling evidence, and secure the full payout for the beneficiary. This win is part of our broader success in handling complex, high-stakes life insurance disputes. We’ve recently resolved claims involving insurers such as Beneficial Life, SBI Life, State Farm Life, USAA Life, and others.
Unusual and Unexpected Life Insurance Claim Denials
Life insurance claim denials often arise in ways that catch families completely off guard. While some denials are due to standard issues like non-payment of premiums or misrepresentation, others are rooted in lesser-known policy provisions and exclusions that can devastate beneficiaries when invoked. Below are some of the more unusual reasons why insurers like Lincoln Financial may deny a life insurance claim—and how we fight back.
Hazardous Activities and Exclusion Clauses
One of the more unexpected causes of claim denial is participation in high-risk or extreme activities. Many life insurance policies exclude coverage for deaths that occur while the insured is engaged in dangerous pursuits such as:
Skydiving
Rock climbing
Off-road racing
BASE jumping
Underground street competitions
Even recreational participation in extreme sports can trigger policy exclusions if those activities are explicitly barred or considered “hazardous” by the insurer. In the case we recently resolved against Lincoln Financial, the insurer claimed the insured’s involvement in a recreational motorsport voided the policy. Our attorneys successfully argued that the language of the exclusion was overly broad and did not apply to the specific circumstances of the death.
Foreign Travel and Geographic Restrictions
Many policies contain restrictions for deaths occurring outside of the insured’s country of residence. Some insurers will deny a claim if the death occurred:
In a country with a travel warning or political instability
Due to an illness contracted while abroad
During travel that was not disclosed during the application process
If the insured fails to inform the insurer of frequent international travel or plans to reside abroad temporarily, and later dies overseas, the insurer may argue that the increased risk was not underwritten properly. Our legal team routinely handles such denials and challenges them based on language ambiguities and lack of proof that the travel materially affected risk.
Illegal Activity, Criminal Conduct, and Suspicious Circumstances
Another often-misunderstood basis for denial involves illegality exclusions. If the insured dies while committing a crime—such as DUI, theft, or even trespassing—insurers may invoke this exclusion to avoid paying out. Similarly, deaths involving foul play or those ruled a suicide may trigger internal investigations and lengthy delays. If suicide occurs within the policy’s first two years, the suicide clause typically allows denial of the claim.
However, insurers often overreach or fail to complete a proper investigation. In many cases, our firm is able to prove the exclusion does not apply or that the insurer failed to meet its burden of proof.
Concealed Medical Conditions and Lifestyle Misrepresentation
If an insured individual fails to disclose smoking, alcohol abuse, drug use, or chronic health conditions during the application process, and later dies from related complications, the insurer may use this as grounds to deny the claim. Even if the misrepresentation was unintentional, it can be cited during the contestability period, which is typically the first two years after policy issuance.
Our attorneys regularly demonstrate that the alleged misrepresentation was immaterial or that the insurer waived its right to deny the claim by issuing the policy without further investigation.
Administrative Errors and Lapsed Policies
Sometimes denials result from clerical errors, not misconduct. Mistakes in recording the insured’s personal details, policy type, or employment status can create confusion about eligibility. In group policies tied to employment, we often find that an employer failed to submit paperwork or premiums, leading to an unintentional lapse in coverage. In these cases, we investigate the employer's role and work to restore the coverage or pursue alternative legal remedies.
Our Law Firm Fights All Life Insurance Denials
No matter how unusual the reason for denial may seem, we can help. Our team has successfully resolved life insurance disputes involving:
Policy exclusions for extreme sports
Foreign travel limitations
Deaths ruled as suicide or suspicious
Hidden medical conditions
Alleged misrepresentations
Lapsed policies due to clerical or employer error
Disputes in beneficiary designations and interpleader lawsuits
We fight insurers aggressively and only get paid if we win. Whether your policy is through work or privately purchased, we have the experience and record to win your case. If you need legal help for life insurance disputes in Louisiana call us.
FAQ: Denied Life Insurance Claims and Unusual Exclusions
Can a life insurance claim be denied for dangerous hobbies?
Yes. Many policies exclude deaths resulting from activities like skydiving, race car driving, or mountain climbing. We challenge these denials by analyzing policy language and the actual cause of death.
What happens if someone dies abroad?
If the policy has geographic restrictions or the death occurred in a high-risk area, the insurer may deny the claim. We can dispute this by proving the travel wasn’t material to the risk or wasn’t properly excluded in the policy.
Is suicide always excluded from coverage?
Only if it occurs during the suicide exclusion period, typically the first two years. After that, suicide is generally covered.
Can a claim be denied if the insured was committing a crime?
Yes, insurers may deny claims under the “illegal acts” exclusion. But not all denials are valid—especially if the conduct was minor or unrelated to the cause of death.
What is the contestability period?
It’s a two-year window after the policy starts during which the insurer can investigate and deny claims based on errors or omissions in the application.
Can lifestyle choices like smoking void coverage?
Only if smoking or substance use was concealed during the application and directly contributed to the cause of death. We often prove that lifestyle misrepresentations weren’t material.
What if the policy lapsed by mistake?
We frequently challenge lapse-based denials when an employer or insurer made an administrative error. In many cases, we get the policy reinstated or obtain compensation.
What if there’s a delay in payment instead of a denial?
Delays can be just as harmful. We pressure insurers to pay promptly and hold them accountable for bad faith conduct when necessary.