Strange Claims

Strange Claims Indeed 12

Every year as the fourth of July nears, Mike Rowe, State Auto Insurance Co. recalls an auto claim he handled a few years ago. The case involves an insured infatuated with fireworks. He loved them so much he spent a …

Strange Claims Indeed 11

Paul Clark, recalled a situation involving a company paying an annuity to an individual in India. A fingerprint found on the back of each check endorsed them. One day, an audit revealed the check recipient had lived well passed the …

Strange Claims Indeed 10

Sandi Quezada of Chino Hills, Calif. recalled an applicant suffering from back pain who became pregnant. The client filed a claim on the grounds the anti-inflammatory agent in her pain medication neutralized her birth control, resulting in the pregnancy. She …

Strange Claims Indeed 9

Retired claims manager for the now defunct General Rent-a-Car in South Florida, Jay Bach, recalled a claim from the late 1980s where a driver slid into a wall killing the passenger. Apparently the driver and passenger worked for the FBI, …

Strange Claims Indeed 8

During a late-autumn storm while Chris Fletcher, account manager, HRH of Connecticut, attended is freshman year at college; a small tree fell in his yard back home. Unfortunately, the tree fell directly upon his 14′ single-handed racing sailboat, stowed away …

Strange Claims Indeed 7

A homeowners customer once requested coverage from Reiner Maurer, vice president, personal lines, United States Liability Insurance Group to pay for the loss of his stolen dentures. Confounded by the idea of someone stealing another person’s dentures, Maurer investigated further. …

Strange Claims Indeed 6

Claims Journal received a strange claim submission reflecting a kitchen-fire claim. While home-fires commonly initiate claims, the way this particular fire started might be unusual. The insureds apparently moved a wall mirror into their kitchen where they mounted it on …

Strange Claims Indeed 5

Peter Crosa of Atlanta, Ga. received an assignment for lightning damage to an insured’s ceiling and roof. While lightning stikes on homes in Florida occur with relative regularity, what he found resembled a science fiction movie set. Two oblong holes, …

Strange Claims Indeed 4

Consumer advocate and owner of Pinnacle Insurance, Steve Desino, had an insured call after returning from a week’s vacation to a ruined living room rug. When Desino inquired as to the cause of the loss, the insured said, when getting …

Strange Claims Indeed 3

Mike Dwyer, president, Sinclair-Dwyer and Co. recounted an auto-medical payments claim filed by a woman due to injuries sustained by her left breast. The insured — apparently endowed enough — got caught in her car door upon exiting. Making matters …

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