Who Should Get Coverage from Accidents?

Who Should Get Coverage from Accidents?

Summary: Although it is important, life insurance can be difficult to procure, most notably for those who work in dangerous jobs. There are many factors that affect an individual’s ability to gain a good life insurance policy, especially when that policy includes accidental death and dismemberment.

Life insurance is arguably one of the most important kinds of insurance coverage that an individual can possibly have. However, did you know that there are certain details that might make it difficult for you to purchase the life insurance coverage you require? Especially when it concerns accidental death and dismemberment policies, factors like your occupation or travel destinations can have a serious impact on your ability to find the right policy for you.

About Accidental Death Coverage

According to the latest statistics from Statistics Canada, approximately 10,000 people die as a result of an accident every year. As its name suggests, accidental death insurance only pays out if the insured dies as a result of an accident, which happens to be less likely than a non-accidental death.

In some situations, traditional life insurance may not be available, due to the insured’s health issues or lifestyle choices. One such decision that can make acquiring life insurance difficult is travelling to certain countries. If the insured chooses to visit a destination that has been deemed a restricted area by their insurance company, they risk losing their life insurance coverage.

The Edge Benefits offers a stand-alone accidental death and dismemberment policy for either $300,000 or $500,000. This policy may be purchased on a single-life basis, or a family-life basis. On the other hand, Hunter McCorquodale provides accidental death insurance policies up to $20 million, with larger amounts available on a case-by-case basis.

Accidental death and dismemberment policies, or simply accidental death policies, are available either on an individual or group basis. Hunter McCorquodale also offers optional lump sum coverage for accidental, permanent, or total disability, as well as war or terrorism coverage. Any of these policies are available on a stand-alone or add-on basis, in both Canadian or U.S. funds. As an example, a previous client who worked as a physician accepted a two-month assignment at a NATO military base in Kandahar, Afghanistan. His medical association offered partial coverage, but contained an exclusion on war. Hunter McCorquodale issued this client an accidental death and dismemberment policy specifically for war and terrorism.

People Who Should have Accidental Death Insurance

The top 10 most dangerous jobs in America, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, are discussed below:

1. Fishermen

Have you ever watched Deadliest Catch on TV? If so, it should be clear why this profession has been the absolute deadliest in America since 1992. With risks like being thrown overboard, gigantic waves, malfunctioning gear, and hellish weather, this is not an easy job. There are numerous hazards to be aware of when working on the high seas. The average annual salary of a fisherman is $25,590, with a fatality rate of 116 for every 100,000 workers.

2. Logging Workers

Over half of all fatalities in logging are from being struck by an object. Common risk factors include high altitude, bad weather, and working with heavy equipment. This is definitely an industry where you need to constantly be on high alert, despite the technological improvements that have been made throughout the years. The average annual salary of a logger is $32,870, with a fatality rate of 91.9 for every 100,000 workers.

3. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers

Working with your head in the clouds is not as easy as it seems. When things go wrong in the sky, it’s a very long way down to earth. The main causes of death in this profession are transportation accidents as a result of crashes. The average annual salary of an airline pilot is $118,070, and average annual salary of a commercial pilot is $76,050. Their combined fatality rate is 70.6 for every 100,000 workers.

4. Farmers and Ranchers

Despite improvements in farming technology over the years, this long-standing profession has not become safer with time. Frequent close contact with heavy machinery greatly increases the possibility of a fatal accident. The average annual salary of a farmer or rancher is $60,750, with a fatality rate of 41.4 for every 100,000 workers.

5. Miners

Risks in dealing with heavy machinery, close and claustrophobic quarters, and possible explosions or rock falls make mining an extremely dangerous profession. The average annual salary of a miner is between $37,230 and $89,440, with a fatality rate of 19.9 for every 100,000 workers. Mining machine operators, in particular, are in even more danger, with a fatality rate of 38.7 for every 100,000 workers.

6. Roofers

With the dangerous combination of a slanted roof and a very tall ladder, it is clear why there are great risks involved in this career path. When you also consider bad weather and seasonal conditions that make roofs slippery, it is easy to see why falls are the leading cause of death among roofers. There are also numerous injuries involved in this line of work, with fractures and broken bones being extremely common. The average annual salary of a roofer is $34,220, with a fatality rate of 32.4 for every 100,000 workers.

7. Garbage and Recycling Collectors

Does the inclusion of this job seem unusual? This job is much more dangerous than it appears to be. It is actually the fourth-leading profession for non-fatal injuries, which are most often lacerations. Transportation accidents account for most of the fatalities within this profession. The average annual salary of a garbage and recycling collector is $34,420, with a fatality rate of 29.8 for every 100,000 workers.

8. Truck Drivers

With risk factors like long hours, exhaustion, over-exertion, and driving a 40-ton truck, it is transportation accidents that account for almost all of the fatalities within this profession. Many other non-fatal injuries and other health problems can result from this line of work, caused by factors like poor posture while driving a truck over long periods of time.

The average annual salary is $29,080 for light truck drivers and $37,930 for heavy truck drivers, with a combined fatality rate of 21.8 for every 100,000 workers.

9. Stuntmen

Despite advancements in special effects technology and 3-D animation, stuntmen are still required on many productions. There are many safety precautions in place within this profession, but it is still quite dangerous. On the set of Hangover II, a stuntman suffered major brain injury, and a New Zealand actor named Kevin Smith fell from a scaffold on set in 2002 and died. The average annual salary of a stuntman is $70,000, with a fatality rate of approximately 2.5 for every 1,000 workers.

10. Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers

In 2010, 134 police and sheriff’s patrol officers in the U.S. lost their lives on the job, which was a 40 per cent increase over 2009. Of these deaths, 57 were highway accidents, while 48 were reported as homicides. Police officers are rated second of all professions concerning highest rate of non-fatal injuries. The average annual salary of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is $56,250, with a fatality rate of 18 for every 100,000 workers.

Conclusion

Although the above is purely based on American statistics, there are many parallels to these industries in Canada. It is also important to note that no matter what your profession, life insurance should be available to you. There are certain occupations that may disqualify you from traditional life insurance policies, which can easily be determined by completing the medical tests and questionnaires often produced by these companies. If traditional life insurance is not an option for you, no medical life insurance may be a solution of which you can take advantage.

There are two kinds of no medical life insurance available in Canada. Simplified issue life insurance requires no medical testing, but you will be asked to complete a short series of health-related questions. Most simplified issue life insurance policies provide coverage as soon as day one, and many do not have any occupation-related questions in their examination. Guaranteed issue life insurance requires no medical tests and no health questions will be asked of you.

No matter what your specific needs may be, you will be able to find a life insurance policy that will work for you. 

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