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Turbulence, office exercise, family claims and addiction
Insurance touches almost every aspect of our lives. In a fast-changing world insurance has to keep up with new risks and figure out ways to handle them. In this post we’re exploring insurance and aircraft turbulence, the worrying combination of office furniture and exercise equipment, accidents involving the family, and the insurance side of gaming addiction.
Turbulence, seat belts and air travel safety
Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 suffered from violent turbulence on 21 May, killing retired British insurance worker Geoff Kitchen and injuring 48 other people. The Boeing 777-300ER was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, en route to London to Singapore when it plummeted downwards thanks to severe turbulence, sending people rocketing up to hit the plane’s ceiling. It made an emergency landing at Bangkok shortly afterwards, leaving 48 people in hospital with spinal, spinal cord, skull and brain injuries.
So what are the insurance implications? Allianz is the main insurer for the plane itself, so the type of claim and payout for damage to the plane are for them to decide. As far as the passengers are concerned, personal or business travel insurance policies should pay out for injuries, just like they would for other emergency medical treatment.
All airlines are liable for accidents on international flights, including turbulence, whether or not they’ve been found negligent. Something called the Montreal Convention means people can claim up to USD $175,000 without an airline having to argue who’s liable. This is good news for passengers because claims will be processed and paid without legal delays. If the airline can’t prove it took every possible safety measure, including ‘reasonable efforts’ to avoid turbulence, people will be able to claim for more than US$175,000.
US juries have awarded passengers more than a million dollars for emotional trauma after severe turbulence, more than many countries. If the airline is found liable this time, the payout depends on the country where the claim is made and its legal system.
The incident proved how important it is to wear a seatbelt when you’re asked to, and not take it off until it’s safe and the ‘seatbelts off’ light comes on. But if you feel particularly worried, you can simply keep your seat belt on for the whole flight. If there’s turbulence, you’ll be more likely to stay safely in your seat than be thrown around.
Combining exercise equipment and desk furniture – Clever or crazy?
Exercising can hurt... in a good way! But the equipment isn’t usually considered dangerous. Desk furniture is also pretty safe. But when the two combine, accidents happen. There’s a trend for workstation exercise equipment, where employees get exercise as they work, but it’s becoming clear the equipment can cause injuries.
It’s also a distraction. Can you imagine trying to focus on an important task while using a treadmill desk? It’s also hard to work when your colleague at the next desk is running or lifting weights. Using a keyboard while exercising could injure you because it forces you into unnatural positions. You might even fall or slip.
A treadmill desk is a good example of the down-side to exercising at work. It only lets you use your legs. You can’t swing your arms while using it, like you would naturally, so you can end up with painful hips, shoulders and torso. Exercise balls look like fun but they don’t support you properly, it’s easy to fall off, and you end up spending even more time sitting down. Desk bicycle pedals are probably the safest but can still leave you with strains, distract you from your work, and come with a chair that doesn’t move, leaving you stuck in one position.
Can you make a personal injury claim against your family?
Hopefully it’ll never happen. But what if you’re injured in the family car because someone’s driving badly? Who will compensate you? Can you make a personal injury claim against your other half or a member of your family?
In the USA, in most cases, you can file a lawsuit against a family member for injuries they cause either negligently or intentionally, even when you’re insured under the same policy. On the other hand US insurers can refuse to cover claims where the policyholder is partly liable because they’re family.
There’s more. Because married couples often share their finances, making a claim against your partner might mean you make a claim against yourself.
In Malaysia it’s essential to consult a legal expert. They’ll confirm your specific rights and any local laws affecting your claim. It matters because the law is different in every country. Always make sure you understand and follow local laws and regulations, then you’ll avoid legal complications.
How gaming addiction influences insurance
Gaming can be powerfully addictive. Once you’re addicted it’s a challenge to stop. Because you can’t control your gaming habits your finances collapse, your work suffers, your relationships go wrong and your whole life can be turned upside down.
That’s why a group of the best-loved video game publishers are busy trying to beat legal cases brought by people who’ve become addicted to gaming. Will insurance companies end up taking the burden? Or is addiction uninsurable? Watch this space. We’ll let you know when the situation is resolved and our industry has answers.
In the meantime if you need insurance, feel free to get in touch with our team. We’re always happy to help.
Sources:
https://reinasia.com/insurance-coverage-and-legal-liabilities-in-focus-following-singapore-airlines-turbulence-incident/
https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2024/05/28/the-emerging-risk-of-exercise-equipment-as-desk-furniture/
https://www.stillwaterokattorney.com/stillwater-lawyer-blog/2014/06/personal-injury-claim/
https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2024/06/05/what-do-video-gaming-addiction-suits-mean-for-insurers/