Stunt Gone Wrong, Performer Paralyzed: How Specialized Insurance Responded (If Available!)
The High Fall That Ended a Career
My friend’s uncle was a veteran stunt performer. During a “high fall” stunt, the safety airbag was misplaced, and he landed badly, suffering a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. The film’s insurance covered his initial medical bills under workers’ comp. But his own personal, high-limit Accident and Disability policy was what truly saved his family financially. It paid him a multi-million-dollar lump sum because he could no longer perform his “own occupation.” For a stunt performer, that personal policy is the ultimate financial safety net for a catastrophic, career-ending injury.
Insuring Daredevils: The High-Wire Act of Stunt Performer Insurance
My Job is to Look Like I’m Out of Control, While My Insurance is In Complete Control
I met a professional stunt driver who told me, “My job is to make a 100-mile-per-hour car crash look like chaotic, out-of-control mayhem. But behind the scenes, every single detail is meticulously planned and controlled.” She said her insurance is the same. She works with a specialized broker to buy a personal accident policy that looks just as controlled. It’s a high-stakes, high-wire act to get coverage, but it’s the financial mission control that allows her to perform her dangerous, spectacular job with confidence.
Stunt Performer Insurance Needs: High Limit Accident Medical, Disability (Own-Occ!), CGL (If Working Indie?)
The Stunt Performer’s “Holy Trinity” of Survival
A professional stunt performer’s personal insurance plan is a “holy trinity” of survival. First and most important is a high-limit Accident Medical policy, which pays for injuries sustained on set, often above what workers’ comp provides. Second is a robust “own-occupation” Disability policy, which pays out if an injury ends their specific, high-risk career. And third, if they work on non-union indie films, they might need their own General Liability policy in case their stunt accidentally injures someone else.
Accident Medical Coverage is KEY: Paying for Injuries Sustained During Stunts! High Limits Needed!
When a Broken Leg Costs More Than a Broken-Down Car
A stunt performer I know broke his leg during a simple fight scene. The film’s workers’ comp covered the basics. But he needed multiple surgeries from a top orthopedic specialist that cost a fortune. His own personal “Accident Medical” insurance policy is what paid for the high-end medical care he needed to get back to work. It’s a policy designed to pay for the expensive, specialized medical treatment that is often required to repair the high-performance machine that is a stunt performer’s body.
Disability Insurance with “Own-Occupation” Definition for Stunt Work! Career-Ending Risk!
I Can Still Walk, But I Can’t Do a 30-Foot Fall Anymore
A veteran stuntwoman suffered a back injury that left her with a permanent limp. She could walk, work an office job, even jog. But she could no longer perform the high falls and fight scenes her career required. Her standard disability policy wouldn’t pay. But her specialized “own-occupation” policy did. It paid her a massive benefit because she was permanently disabled from performing her specific job as a stunt performer. That “own-occupation” definition is the most important clause in a stunt person’s financial survival plan.
General Liability If Performing Stunts Independently or for Smaller Productions?
The Indie Film and the Lawsuit
My friend, a stunt coordinator, was hired by a small, non-union independent film. During a choreographed fight scene, he accidentally injured the lead actor. Because the indie film’s own insurance was so minimal, the actor sued my friend personally. Luckily, my friend had his own “Performer’s General Liability” policy. It’s a crucial coverage for stunt professionals who work on smaller projects that may not have the massive, protective insurance umbrella of a major studio.
Comparing Insurance Options for Different Types of Stunts (Falls, Fire, Car, Fight Choreography)
A Fire Burn is Not the Same Risk as a Car Crash
An insurance underwriter for stunt performers told me they rate the risk based on the specialty. A stunt person who specializes in fight choreography has one level of risk. A performer who does “high falls” has another. A specialist who does “fire burns”—one of the most dangerous stunts—has a much higher risk and will pay an astronomical premium. And a stunt driver faces the risk of a high-speed crash. The specific type of danger you face every day dictates the cost and type of your insurance.
Does Standard Workers’ Comp (Via Production) Adequately Cover Stunt Performers? Often Not Enough!
The Union’s Safety Net and the Performer’s Personal Parachute
When a union stunt performer gets hurt on a major film set, the production’s Workers’ Compensation policy pays their medical bills and a portion of their wages. It’s the first safety net. However, the benefits are often based on a standard scale and don’t account for a stunt person’s high earning potential or the career-ending nature of some injuries. That’s why most successful stunt performers buy their own, additional layers of personal Accident Medical and Disability insurance. It’s their personal parachute in case the first safety net isn’t enough.
Filing Claims for Injuries Sustained During Stunt Performance: Extensive Documentation!
The Stunt, the Injury, and the Mountain of Paperwork
When a stunt performer is seriously injured on set, the claims process is incredibly detailed. The production immediately files a workers’ comp claim. The performer then files a claim under their own personal accident policy. This requires a full accident report from the stunt coordinator, witness statements, and detailed medical records from specialists. For a disability claim, it requires expert medical opinions stating they are permanently unable to perform their duties. Every detail is scrutinized. It’s a full-time job to manage the claim.
Watching a Movie Stunt: Amazed at the Skill (and the Insurance Behind It)!
The Calculated Risk Behind the On-Screen Chaos
I was watching a movie with an incredible car chase and crash scene. The on-screen chaos was breathtaking. But knowing what I know about the industry, I was even more amazed by the calculated risk management happening behind the scenes. I thought about the specialized stunt drivers, the safety protocols, and the massive, layered insurance program that had to be in place to make that one, two-minute scene possible. The financial engineering behind the stunt is almost as impressive as the stunt itself.
Protecting Your Livelihood in One of the World’s Most Dangerous Professions!
My Body Isn’t Just My Temple; It’s My Office and My Factory
A professional stunt performer once told me, “My body is my entire business. It’s my office, my factory, and my product, all in one. A torn ACL isn’t just an injury; it’s a factory shutdown. A broken back isn’t just a medical issue; it’s a catastrophic business failure.” For a stunt performer, a personal disability and accident insurance policy isn’t a luxury. It’s the fundamental business insurance that protects their one and only, very fragile, income-producing asset.
Finding Specialized Brokers/Insurers Willing to Write Stunt Performer Risks (Very Few!)
The Agent Who Wasn’t Afraid of a Fire Gag
A stuntman I know tried to get disability insurance from a standard agent. The agent took one look at his occupation and said, “No way.” He had to go to a specialized entertainment insurance broker. This broker had relationships with the handful of niche underwriters at companies like Lloyd’s of London who understand and are willing to insure high-risk professions. You can’t get stunt performer insurance from a company that thinks a “high fall” is a slip in the shower.
How Safety Protocols, Rigging Checks, and Experience Impact Insurability!
My Resume is My Insurance Application
When a veteran stunt performer applies for disability insurance, the underwriter looks at more than just their medical history. They look at their resume. Who have they worked with? What is their safety record? Are they known for being reckless or for being a meticulous professional? A performer with a long history of working with top-tier stunt coordinators and a clean safety record is seen as a much better risk. In this business, your professional reputation and your commitment to safety directly impact your insurability.
Coverage for Rehearsals and Training for Stunts?
The Injury That Happened in the Gym, Not on the Set
A stunt performer was in a specialized gym, practicing a complex wire-work maneuver for an upcoming film. She fell badly and tore her Achilles tendon. The injury didn’t happen on set during filming. But her personal accident policy was written to cover her 24/7, including during training and rehearsals. This is a critical feature, as stunt performers spend far more time training and preparing for a stunt than they do actually performing it. The gym is just as much a part of their workplace as the set.
What if a Stunt Causes Unintended Damage to Property or Injures Others? Production CGL.
The Car Chase That Ended in a Coffee Shop
During a film’s car chase scene, a stunt driver was supposed to swerve and stop just short of a storefront. He misjudged it and crashed through the window of a coffee shop, injuring a bystander who was watching the filming. The stunt performer himself is generally not held liable for this. The film production’s massive General Liability policy is designed to cover this “third-party” bodily injury and property damage that is an unintended consequence of a planned stunt.