Do Extreme Sports Lead to Extreme Life Insurance Costs?
Updated: Sep 19, 2020
Are you an adrenaline junkie? Do you like to take risks and go on exciting outdoor adventures? Do you participate in extreme sports? We might think of these activities as purely fun, but they can actually be quite dangerous. If you are someone who likes to take risks, life insurance is a necessity. Would you jump out of a plane without a parachute? We hope not. And that’s why you need the security of life insurance the next time you freefall from 12,000 feet. Read on to see which other extreme activities might be putting you at risk.
The Deadliest Extreme Sports
The five deadliest are bull-riding, white water rafting, surfing, base jumping, and free climbing. Even seemingly safe outdoor fun such as spending the day at a national park like Yosemite can have fatal consequences. Yosemite experiences 12 to 15 deaths every year. These fatalities result from drowning and also people falling from Half Dome, which is 4,800 feet of solid granite. In fact, hundreds of people die each year from mountain and rock climbing around the world. It is estimated that 1 in 60 base jumps results in a fatality. Several hundred people have perished over the years taking the risk of climbing the Himalayas and the infamous Mount Everest. These adventure-seekers often put themselves at risk without seriously considering what is at stake.
The Danger of Water Sports
Water sports also claim lives. For instance, 77 people have already died in 2018 while surfing due to things like rip currents and high surf. White water rafting claims a similar annual amount. In 2014, deaths from boating accidents such as kayaking, canoeing, and such in the U.S. totaled more than 600. Plus, an average of 16 people per year die from diving. Furthermore, it is not just the riskiness of these activities that makes them dangerous. The sudden increase in adrenaline combined with the physical stress can cause cardiac arrest. For example, triathlons, which we consider to be a positive, healthy activity, actually claim lives each year. The swimming portion claims 7 out of 9 of the triathlon victims, as it is most physically demanding and also can lead to drowning. Marathons and other long-distance runs have a similar effect.
Risk Assessment and Life Insurance
So, you like to live a life of excitement. There is nothing wrong with that. However, with all of that risk comes the possibility of real consequences, such as leaving your loved ones behind. Therefore, it is advisable to secure life insurance if you are someone who yearns to jump from great heights in the name of fun. Keep in mind that your risk-taking behavior might affect the premiums that you pay for your insurance. For example, in the movie Along Came Polly, Ben Stiller’s character plays a risk assessor who evaluates life insurance applications. Insurance companies want to know if their clients are a safe bet or if they are also taking a risk in insuring you. Your participation in extreme sports might work against you.
The Takeaway
Get a free quote for life insurance today. You will be able to pull that parachute cord with a sense of ease, knowing that your loved ones will be covered.