Hazardous Activities Fact Sheet

Christian Lassen, Esq. | Quoted in The Wall Street Journal | 25 Years Experience Helping beneficiaries nationwide challenge life insurance claims denied due to risky hobbies and hazardous activities.

What Is the Hazardous Activities Exclusion?

Many life insurance policies exclude coverage for deaths resulting from hazardous or high‑risk activities. These exclusions are designed to limit insurer liability for accidents tied to dangerous hobbies.

Commonly excluded activities include skydiving, scuba diving, auto racing, rock climbing, and other extreme sports. If the insured dies while engaging in one of these activities, insurers may deny the claim.

Why Claims Get Denied

Insurers frequently deny claims under hazardous activity exclusions for reasons such as:

• Death during skydiving, scuba diving, or auto racing
• Death while participating in extreme sports or adventure travel
• Insurer alleging the activity was excluded even if not clearly listed in the policy
• Disputes over whether the activity was “hazardous” under policy terms
• Beneficiaries unaware of exclusions buried in policy fine print
• Insurers misapplying exclusions to activities not specifically named

What To Do If Your Claim Was Denied

1. Request the denial letter and claims file from the insurer.
2. Review the policy language carefully to see if the activity is explicitly excluded.
3. Gather evidence of the circumstances of death (accident reports, medical examiner records, witness statements).
4. Consult an experienced life insurance attorney many hazardous activity denials can be challenged.
5. Act quickly appeals and lawsuits have strict deadlines.

Your Legal Rights

• Insurers must prove the death was directly tied to an excluded hazardous activity.
• Beneficiaries can challenge denials if the activity was not clearly excluded or if policy language is ambiguous.
• Courts often side with beneficiaries when insurers misuse hazardous activity exclusions to avoid payment.

Case Example

We helped a family recover $250,000 after the insurer denied benefits, claiming scuba diving was excluded. By proving the policy did not specifically list scuba diving as a hazardous activity, we secured full payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What activities are considered hazardous? 

A: Policies often list skydiving, scuba diving, auto racing, rock climbing, and similar extreme sports.

Q: Can insurers deny claims for activities not listed? 

A: No exclusions must be clearly stated in the policy.

Q: What if the insured was an experienced participant? 

A: Experience does not override exclusions, but ambiguous language can be challenged.

Q: Do I need an attorney? 

A: Yes hazardous activity exclusions are complex and often involve litigation.

How We Help

• Review policy language and exclusion clauses.
• Challenge wrongful denials based on hazardous activity exclusions.
• File lawsuits for breach of contract and bad faith when necessary.
• Secure rightful payouts for families nationwide.

Contact Us

If your life insurance claim was denied due to hazardous activities, don’t wait. Insurers count on families giving up. Call 800‑330‑2274 for a free consultation. No fees unless we win.

Key Takeaways

• Hazardous activity exclusions deny coverage for deaths tied to risky hobbies.
• Insurers must prove the activity was clearly excluded in the policy.
• Beneficiaries can challenge denials based on ambiguous or misapplied exclusions.
• Prompt legal action increases the chance of success.

Written & Reviewed by Christian Lassen, Esq., Nationally recognized life insurance lawyer: 25 years experience, hundreds of millions recovered.  Quoted in The Wall Street Journal ( May 17, 2025).

Last reviewed: Dec 7, 2025 | Contact 800-330-2274