"They did WHAT?!": Crazy Insurance Stories

Insurance isn't all cut and dry contracts. We've collected a few zany insurance tales that highlight some of the more interesting aspects of our job. Now what do you think; are these real claims or tall tales?

• While driving home from holiday shopping, a man entered a lane behind a vehicle with a Christmas tree on its roof. The tree slid off the car in front of him, going through the man's windshield. The other driver sped off, prompting Police to eventually tell the man to keep the tree.
• Some insurance policies offer coverage in the event the client gets a hole-in-one and has to buy rounds of drinks or food at the course's restaurant for other players. (We have a policy available for exactly that as well!)
• A safety training instructor became stuck in an elevator with several trainees. Although they essentially received nothing more than a little real world training experience, the insurance company had to pay for the "mental anguish" they suffered as a result of the experience.
• Lloyd's of London has reportedly sold policies to protect customers in the event of certain attacks, such as werewolves and vampires.
• Australian cricket player Merv Hughes insured his mustache for $370,000
• A couple made a claim on their camera after they lost it over the side of cruise ship trying to film themselves recreating that  scene in Titanic. Bon voyage, indeed.
• Rumor has it that a lawyer purchased a box of expensive cigars and insured them against flooding, storm damage and – of all things – fire. Shortly thereafter, the lawyer filed a claim with his homeowners insurance company, stating that he was owed compensation because “the cigars were lost in a series of small fires”. The insurer refused to pay, assuming (correctly) that the man had smoked the pack himself. A judge ruled, however, that since the insurer had never stated what was considered to be “unacceptable” fire, the company did, in fact, owe him.
• You can purchase alien abduction insurance, which typically costs around $150 per $1.5 million in coverage.

  We can't be sure if these are true stories, or urban legends, but they sure do make for a good laugh!