From a purely technical standpoint, yes, death during adventure sports activities is accidental. However, in the insurance world, these sports are not treated as standard accidents.
Insurers usually classify these as "hazardous activities" or "high-risk pursuits." This classification includes sports and activities such as:
Due to their high fatality rates and inherent risk, many insurers exclude such deaths from their coverage unless the policyholder has explicitly opted for additional riders or specialised plans that account for these activities.
Adventure Sports and Policy Exclusions: What You Need to Know
When purchasing a life insurance policy, it’s imperative to go through the policy wordings, especially the exclusion clause. This section lists out the circumstances under which claims can be denied, and adventure sports often feature in this list.
Common exclusions include:
Death while participating in aerial activities (like paragliding or skydiving)
Death during deep-sea diving or underwater exploration
Death resulting from mountaineering above certain altitudes
Death during motorised racing events
Death is linked to participation in dangerous expeditions
In such cases, if the insured has not purchased specific riders or declared their engagement in these sports, the insurance company may legally deny the claim.
