Life Insurance for Selfie Deaths

Russell Cain Updated: 21 April 2021

It’s become all too common for most people to carry around a smartphone with a front facing camera. When you couple this with a burning desire for instant gratification, the consequences could be dire.

 Selfies are fast becoming most people’s favourite way to document their experiences. This is particularly true for travelers who typically can’t resist the temptation to get a quick snap of themselves on their latest adventures.

However, when you pair this with an unsafe location or dangerous object, there is a very real chance that you may lose your life while getting the ultimate shot for Instagram. Since 2011, 259 people have died in 137 different selfie-related accidents. If you’ve ever thought of taking a selfie at the edge of a cliff or in front of a wild animal, you may want to check if your life insurance would still pay out if you were to die in these circumstances.

The selfie trend and how it can affect your insurance

When applying for a fully underwritten life insurance policy, the insurer will usually ask you if you partake in any dangerous activities or hobbies. While you might not be skydiving, free climbing or motorbike racing, taking photos of yourself at dangerous or exotic locations could be viewed as participating in an ‘extreme or dangerous sport’.

Some policies have a clause concerning high-risk activities, wherein they might:

Exclude cover for such activities as they are deemed too risky, orRequest that you pay a higher premium (loading) to compensate for the increased risk.

You must disclose your selfie-taking behaviour when applying for a policy. Failing to do so could result in your future claim not being paid. It’s best to be honest about your adventurous lifestyle because life insurance is about risk management.

Take note: There are select life insurance companies that specialise in providing coverage for thrill-seekers.

Are selfies becoming more dangerous?

Yes, various research papers and news outlets have reported on the rise of serious incidents, including injury and death, involved in the taking of selfies. That’s why you’ll start to notice more and more ‘No Selfie Zones’ or barricaded areas to avoid such tragedies.

When taking a selfie, peoples’ awareness of their immediate environment may temporarily be reduced and thus expose them to unforeseen dangers, according to a research paper published in 2018 (Media-based clinical research on selfie-related injuries and deaths). This lack of situational awareness and temporary distraction can get you seriously injured or even result in your death.

Will life insurance payout if you die taking a selfie?

A selfie-related claim for injury or death will generally be treated as an accidental injury or accidental death. However, whether your claim will be valid depends on your insurer and Product Disclosure Statement. When you directly or indirectly expose yourself to significant risk as part of your regular pastime and do not disclose this when applying for insurance, the insurer could deny your claim.

An insurance company could also view your death as suicide if no evidence falling off a cliff, for example, were due to you taking a selfie. Generally, suicide is not covered for life insurance during the first 13 months of your policy commencing.

Tips for getting life insurance as an extreme selfie-enthusiast:

Know your lifestyle: List all the things in your life you think might contribute to your risk profile, for example, a hazardous occupation or dangerous pastimes. Fully disclose: Make sure to mention these lifestyle factors when applying for a policy to help prevent your claim from being voided because of missing or inaccurate information. Compare policy terms and conditions: You might want to compare similar policies from some of Australia’s major brands and see which one meets your requirements. Read the PDS: Review the insurer’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) paying particular attention to exclusions, limitations and loadings. Manage your risk: Have an honest look at your lifestyle and determine how you can reduce your risk of injury or death. The ultimate selfie is not worth your life.

Most common types of selfie deaths

From 2011 to 2017 there have been 259 reported selfie-deaths. However, a significant number of cases are not reported. The leading reasons for selfie-related deaths were:

Falling from heightsDrowningTransportation, for example, taking a selfie in front of an oncoming trainFireElectrocutionAnimal attacks

Some recent cases of selfie related deaths:

In August 2019, a woman died after leaning over to take a photo and falling from a cliff at a popular selfie spot in the Diamond Bay Reserve in Australia. Five months later, this same location witnessed another selfie-related death when an English model plummeted to her death while taking pictures. A man died in 2018 after slipping off a cliff while whale-watching and taking selfies at Cape Solander in Kurnell near Sydney.

A mother from Craigieburn recently climbed past safety barriers at the popular Boroka Lookout in Northern Melbourne. She then fell off of the 80-metre cliff while trying to take a picture of herself.

Selfie safety tips

To avoid injury or death when taking a selfie, make sure you follow these tips:

Avoid high altitude selfies. Don’t lean out too far; instead, use a selfie stick. Make sure your footing is firm, and the ground beneath your feet is solid. Stay away from dangerous objects, like knives, guns and explosives. Keep a safe distance from the animals, especially bears, tigers, bees, bison and bucks. Avoid taking selfies near trains, boats or oncoming traffic. Don’t take photos while in motion, for example, when crossing the street or driving. Watch out for electrical wiring. Be aware of your surroundings and stay focused.