Which insurance for extreme or risky sports?

In this article, we will look at insurance for high-risk sports.

How to properly cover yourself when doing extreme sports ?

Activities considered dangerous are not covered by your « standard » insurance policies. Before practicing a riskier sport, it is therefore important to take out additional insurance. Some sports considered « high risk » require insurance…

For an extreme sport practitioner, even professional or expert in their field, the risk of accidents remains very high as the practice conditions are still dangerous, to the extent that insurance companies rarely cover these enthusiasts.

Which sports are involved ?

Sports considered risky are those for which the likelihood of an accident is higher.

Of course, not all sports are considered extreme even with intensive, or even professional practice. They may vary from one insurer to another. Below are some so-called extreme sports:

Whitewater sports:

Canyoning, rafting, kayaking, hydrospeed, etc.

Caving and underground diving.

Equestrian sports:

Eventing, cross-country, horse racing, endurance riding, equestrian marathon, rodeo

Automotive or motorcycle sports:

Formula 1, 3 or 3000, rallies, hill climbs, circuit racing, stock car, ice racing, drag racing, hot Rod, raid, speedway, speed trials, endurance, snowmobile racing, karting races

Mountain sports:

Mountaineering, high-altitude hiking (+3,000 m), climbing above level 5, trekking, bobsleigh, skeleton, off-piste skiing/snowboarding, bike-ski, ice luge

Nautical sports:

Deep free-diving over 20 meters, scuba diving over 40 meters, navigation beyond 20 nautical miles from the coast, powerboat racing, offshore races, catamaran, sailing (long crossing)

Combat sports:

American boxing, British boxing, French boxing, Burmese boxing, Thai boxing (kickboxing), full contact

Aerial sports:

Aviation, delta wing, helicopter, hot air balloon with competition, parachuting, paragliding, gliding, microlight, soaring, aerobatics, and other aeronautical sports

Competitive mountain biking.

Other more traditional sports may also fall under extreme sports if the risks are significantly increased, such as skiing off-piste or on steep, unsecured slopes.

How to properly protect yourself ?

It is possible to insure against bodily injuries ;

Regarding physical injuries that you may suffer as a result of an accident, insurance is optional, even if sports clubs are obliged to inform their members of the benefit of subscribing to such coverage.

If you practice a leisure sport activity outside of a club, you can cover bodily injuries through an extension of your multi-risk home insurance contract or a specific policy (individual accident).

The first checks to make before subscribing to a new policy

If you engage in a risky sport, it is essential to:

Check your insurance contract (additional health insurance, Life Accident coverage, etc.), to review the exclusions. In most cases, your personal liability or your provident contract almost always exclude all risky sports. If you are unsure about your conclusions, contact your insurer. You will then need to opt for a risk sport insurance policy.

Always declare the practice of a risky sport to your insurer when you join (or as soon as you start that sport). They may offer an endorsement to your contract to cover these specific risks.

Be careful: if you « forget » to declare your passion for a risky sport to your insurer, any claim occurring during its practice will not be covered.

What does an extreme sports insurance cover ?

To cover the risks associated with extreme sports, practitioners are advised to take out a policy with adequate levels of coverage. Three coverages seem essential for high-risk sports practitioners:

Liability insurance: This coverage protects the insured in case of bodily or material damage that may be caused to third parties during extreme sports.

Death: This coverage provides for the payment of a capital to the beneficiaries in the event of the athlete’s death.

Disability: This coverage provides for the payment of a capital in the event of bodily injuries resulting in partial or total disability for the insured.

Additional coverages may be included in the policy to cover the insured during their trips to practice locations or if equipment is damaged or stolen.

The more coverages, the higher the insurance premium. Some policies also include repatriation in case of an accident abroad.

Furthermore, before subscribing to an extreme sports insurance, athletes must pay attention to exclusion clauses that can be multiple, as well as the compensation levels for death or disability.

You now understand how high-risk sports insurance works.

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