Scientists are getting closer to reviving extinct species. Woolly mammoth “de-extinction” projects are already underway using CRISPR gene editing, and some researchers even speculate about recreating dinosaurs through fragments of ancient DNA or reverse-engineering birds. But what happens if cloned dinosaurs someday walk the Earth and someone is killed in an encounter? Will life insurance policies cover such a death, or will insurers deny claims under technical exclusions? If you need legal guidance for denied life insurance claims in California call us.
From Mammoths to Dinosaurs: The Science of De-Extinction
Harvard researchers and companies like Colossal Biosciences are working to bring back the woolly mammoth by splicing preserved mammoth DNA into Asian elephant embryos. The goal is to create hybrid animals that look and behave like mammoths, restoring them to Arctic ecosystems.
Dinosaurs are far older, and intact DNA has not survived. Still, scientists have found proteins and fragments in fossils, and geneticists are experimenting with altering bird genomes to give them dinosaur-like traits. While a true T. rex is unlikely in our lifetime, smaller dinosaur analogues may be possible through genetic manipulation.
The legal system, however, is not prepared for cloned dinosaurs. If a death occurs in a future “dinosaur park” or research lab, families may face serious hurdles in recovering life insurance benefits.
How Dinosaur Deaths Could Lead to Denied Life Insurance Claims
Insurance companies exploit policy loopholes whenever possible. In the case of dinosaur-related fatalities, insurers might rely on:
Hazardous activity exclusions:
A visit to a dinosaur safari park or a lab tour could be classified as an elective high-risk activity, voiding coverage.
Animal attack clauses:
Some accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) policies exclude coverage for deaths caused by wild animals. Insurers could argue cloned dinosaurs fall under that category.
Experimental risk exclusions:
Since cloned dinosaurs would be created through cutting-edge genetic experiments, deaths linked to them may be excluded as experimental.
Unforeseen causes not contemplated by the policy:
Insurers may argue that policies never envisioned risks from genetically revived species, making the claim outside the scope of coverage.
The Contestability Window and Dinosaur Claims
During the first two years of coverage, insurers can investigate applications for misstatements. If a policyholder dies in a dinosaur-related incident, the insurer may claim the insured failed to disclose:
Participation in de-extinction research
Travel to areas with cloned animals
Engagement in experimental activities involving genetic engineering
Even minor omissions could be used to rescind a policy and deny payment.
Real-World Scenarios That Could Arise
Imagine a future zoo featuring cloned velociraptors. A tourist is fatally injured after safety systems fail. The family files a claim, but the insurer denies under hazardous activity and animal attack exclusions.
Or consider a researcher working in a genetics lab experimenting with “chickenosaurus” hybrids. A laboratory accident results in death. The insurer may argue that experimental risks are excluded, leaving the family to fight in court.
These scenarios may sound far-fetched, but so did commercial space tourism a decade ago. Insurers are already preparing for risks no one imagined possible.
Can an Attorney Help in Dinosaur Claim Disputes?
Yes. Families faced with futuristic claim denials will need legal advocates willing to challenge insurers stretching exclusions beyond reason. A skilled life insurance attorney can:
Argue that vague policy language cannot retroactively exclude new risks
Demand proof that the exclusion directly applies to the cause of death
Challenge broad interpretations of hazardous activity or experimental exclusions
Pursue bad faith damages if an insurer denies without a reasonable basis
As with other emerging technologies, courts will need to decide how existing insurance law applies to novel risks. Until then, insurers will test the boundaries to avoid paying claims.
FAQ: Dinosaurs and Life Insurance
Can life insurance cover deaths caused by cloned dinosaurs?
Possibly, but insurers may attempt to deny under animal attack or hazardous activity exclusions.
Would visiting a dinosaur park void coverage?
It could. Insurers often exclude deaths from elective risky activities, including dangerous tourism.
What if the death occurred during a lab experiment?
Insurers may argue the fatality was caused by experimental activity, which is a common exclusion.
Could insurers claim dinosaurs fall outside coverage entirely?
Yes. They may argue that man-made species were not contemplated by the policy and deny claims on that basis.
How can families fight back?
By hiring a life insurance attorney to challenge exclusions and hold insurers accountable for unreasonable denials.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
All content on this page and site written by Christian Lassen, Esq.