Accidental death insurance and cover explained

What is accidental death insurance?

Accidental death insurance pays out a fixed lump sum if you die as a result of an accident (often even if you die up to two years after the accident). 

It does not pay out if you die from an illness or disease. There are usually several other exclusions, so it will not pay out if you were driving under the influence of drink or drugs and caused the accident, for example, or committed suicide. Some dangerous sports and activities may also be excluded.

You pay an annual or monthly premium to cover either just yourself or your whole family.

• Find out more: term life insurance explained

Looking to buy accidental death insurance?

Find the right accidental death policy using the service provided by LifeSearch.

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What is the difference between life insurance and accidental death?

Accidental death insurance is a much cheaper but inferior product to life insurance. To find out more, read our guide on the best life insurance in the UK.

It only pays out if you die in an accident and, in many cases, only as long as it was not your fault. Life insurance will pay out if you die, regardless of the cause. 

Life insurance is most often underwritten based on your personal circumstances. Premiums are affected by your age, your health (any pre-existing medical conditions) and your lifestyle (drinking, smoking and dangerous activities). 

As long as you honestly tell the insurer about these when signing up, you will be covered even if they cause your death.

• Find out more: Can couples get joint life insurance?

What is classed as accidental death?

Accidental death means there was no intentional or reckless behaviour involved in a death, and no long-term cause for it.

For instance, if you're drunk or on drugs and have a car crash that kills you, accidental death insurance won't pay out.

If you have a major health issue such as a stroke or heart attack that kills you, it won't pay out. 

However, if a stroke or heart attack causes you to have a car accident and doctors say you would have recovered from the illness so it was the car crash that killed you, accidental death insurance will pay out.

• Find out more: How to write life insurance in trust 

What is not covered by accidental death insurance?

There are many reasons accidental death insurance won't pay out, most obviously:

• Death by illness or disease
• Suicide and self-inflicted injuries
• Reckless or dangerous behaviour, including being under the influence of drink or drugs.

Is a heart attack covered by accidental death policies?

If a heart attack kills you, then it is not covered by an accidental death policy. 

If you suffer a heart attack that is not life-threatening, but which causes you to have an accident that results in your death, then the policy would pay out. 

A doctor would need to be clear that the accident killed you, not the heart attack.

• Find out more: Whole-of-life insurance explained 

Other accidental death insurance plans

There are a number of additional options alongside accidental death insurance.

1. Accidental death and dismemberment insurance

This policy also pays out for serious loss of limbs, not just death.

2. Personal accident insurance

Personal accident insurance policies pay out lump sums for accidental death and loss of limbs, but also for broken bones, dislocations, burns and a range of other causes that might result in hospitalisation or your inability to work. Some policies include a daily allowance while you recover from the accident.

If you've had previous bodily injuries or causes of accidents, policies may impose exclusions or other restrictions on claims (you might only receive a daily benefit for specific claims if your injury lasts more than a fixed number of weeks, for example).

• Find out more: Critical illness insurance explained 

Do you need accidental death insurance?

If you can afford life insurance and/or full personal accident insurance, these policies may prove a better solution due to the wider range of situations they cover.

If you are buying accidental death insurance, look carefully at the policy's terms, cost and exclusions, such as driving under the influence of drink or drugs, suicide and some dangerous sports and activities.

• Find out more: can you have more than one life insurance policy?

Accidental death benefit life insurance

Accidental death benefit is a separate and different policy often provided for you while your application for full life insurance is being considered. 

It will pay out the sum you are seeking cover for, up to a maximum set by the insurer (say, £300,000), if you die within 90 days of an accident.  

Accidental death benefit has all the same exclusions as accidental death insurance.

• Find out more: family income benefit explained

Accidental death insurance FAQs