Accidental Death Benefit

An accidental death benefit is a rider added to a life insurance policy that pays an additional sum — often equal to the base death benefit — if the insured dies as a direct result of an accident rather than illness or natural causes. This is sometimes called "double indemnity" because the total payout can be double the face amount. Qualifying accidents are defined in the policy and typically exclude dangerous activities, self-inflicted injuries, or deaths resulting from intoxication. The rider is generally low-cost and most useful for younger policyholders in physically demanding occupations. Coverage terms vary significantly by carrier.