The question is no longer if humanity will discover alien life, but when. Scientists are scanning distant stars for signals, and governments are preparing protocols for first contact. Whether aliens turn out to be microbial, intelligent, or something in between, the risks of meeting them are real. If someone dies during first contact, will life insurance companies pay the claim? Or will they argue that alien encounters fall under exclusions for war, invasion, or hostile acts? If you need legal guidance for denied life insurance claims in California call us.
The Risks of Alien Contact
First contact could happen in many ways, each bringing new dangers:
Exposure to alien microbes or unknown pathogens.
Accidental deaths during communication or transport attempts.
Violent encounters if extraterrestrials are hostile.
Psychological trauma leading to fatal accidents.
Each risk provides insurers with potential loopholes.
How Insurers Could Deny Claims
Insurers may use several strategies to avoid payouts after alien-related deaths:
War or invasion exclusion: If extraterrestrials are classified as hostile forces, insurers may treat fatalities as excluded acts of war.
Hazardous activity exclusion: Voluntarily joining a first contact mission may be labeled too risky to insure.
Experimental activity exclusion: Meeting aliens could be argued as an untested and experimental event.
Voluntary exposure defense: If someone willingly approached alien life, insurers may claim they accepted the risk.
Real-World Scenarios
Imagine a scientist on a first contact mission dies after exposure to an alien microbe. The family files a claim, but insurers respond:
The death was caused by biological warfare.
The mission was experimental and excluded from coverage.
The scientist voluntarily exposed themselves to a lethal risk.
Each of these arguments could be used to delay or deny payment.
Can Attorneys Help in Alien Contact Denials?
Yes. Attorneys can:
Challenge insurers who misapply war or invasion exclusions.
Argue that policies never specifically excluded extraterrestrial encounters.
Demand evidence that the claimed exclusion directly caused the death.
Pursue bad faith damages if insurers act unreasonably.
FAQ: Life Insurance and Alien Contact
Can insurers deny claims from alien-related deaths?
Yes. They may argue it falls under war or hazardous activity exclusions.
What if aliens are microbial, not intelligent?
Insurers may still classify it as experimental or hazardous exposure.
Would space tourists face the same risks as scientists?
Yes. Insurers can apply exclusions to anyone in alien encounters.
Can families fight denials successfully?
Yes. Courts often require precise policy language, and vague exclusions usually favor the insured.
If aliens ever visit, I hope they come in peace! If not, at least I can say just like Hudson, “game over, man.... game over!” before my insurer denies the claim for invasion by extraterrestrials.
All content on this page and site written by Christian Lassen, Esq.