General Chat

In order to help insurance companies avoid claims on life policies, they commissioned research into deaths following falls. They will not pay out on life policies where death was self-induced. Gratifyingly (for the insurance companies), an analysis of fatal falls showed that over 55% of the falls followed heavy drinking so naturally they can claim that resultant deaths were self induced. 'We have shown that a fatal fall downstairs without an underlying severe disease or alcohol influence is a rare phenomenon' (Forensic Science International DOI:10.1016/j.forsclint.2006) So watch your step after a night on the town. And don't suffer from severe diseases if you have a life policy as this gives another let-out.

I bet it was an insurance company rather than an independent company that did the analysing!! As Mark Twain said - there are lies, damn lies and statistics!! I have nearly fallen downstairs on a few occasions, i'm not ill, I hadn't been drinking - just wearing the wrong trousers and caught my foot in the leg!! I wonder what they say about people hurting themselves getting out of the bed or bath - perhaps it was their own fault they fell out/in of the bath, they were naked and there was soap around!! As for hurting themselves getting out of bed - they shoudn't have had covers they could catch their foot in!! Lubby ridiculous!! maggie

What if you topple, going down for your tipple? Jay