What does the term double indemnity refer to?

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Double indemnity is a clause or provision in a life insurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay the stated multiple (i.e., double, triple, etc.) of the face amount in the contract in cases of death caused by accidental means.



Likewise, why is the accidental death benefit referred to as Double Indemnity?

Double indemnity clauses are often found in life insurance policies and is a form of accidental death insurance because it typically requires the insurer to pay double the face value of the life policy to the beneficiary in the event of accidental death.

Similarly, do all life insurance policies have double indemnity? All life insurance policies will pay their stated death benefits in the case of accidental death. This is sometimes referred to as “double indemnitylife insurance. These riders are also sometimes sold as separate polices known as Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance, or AD& D.

Likewise, is Double Indemnity a love story?

But there's another story in "Double Indemnity," and it really is a love story. Insurance salesman Walter Neff and his boss Barton Keyes, played by Edward G. Dietrichson and the subsequent downfall of his killers, but rather how Neff's sexual desire for Phyllis separates him from the person who cares the most for him.

How long is double indemnity?

1h 50m

34 Related Question Answers Found

Is a heart attack an accidental death?

If an insured has a heart attack while driving and gets into a car crash because of the heart attack, their death (or injury) might not be covered by their accidental death coverage (or AD&D insurance). Any physical or mental illness not caused by an injury.

What qualifies as accidental death?

Accidental death, as defined in accidental death insurance policies, is any death strictly due to an accident. It typically excludes such things as acts of war and death caused by illegal activities, etc. In the case of a fatal accident, death usually must occur within a period specified in the policy.

What is Double Indemnity in life insurance?

Double indemnity is a clause or provision in a life insurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay the stated multiple (i.e., double, triple, etc.) of the face amount in the contract in cases of death caused by accidental means.

What are examples of accidental death?

Examples of accidental deaths include:
  • Motor vehicle accidents. The leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States, motor vehicle accidents include mechanically or electrically powered vehicles.
  • Falls.
  • Poisoning.
  • Drowning.
  • Fire-related injuries.
  • Suffocation.
  • Firearms.
  • Industrial accidents.

What happens to the cash value after the policy is fully paid up?


In addition to whole life policies, they build up a tax-deferred cash value, which is basically savings, over the life of the policy. The cash value continues to grow in time with the premiums that you pay. If you surrender the policy earlier, you are then entitled to some of the cash value.

Does life insurance pay triple if you die on a business trip?

No, a life insurance policy does not pay out triple if killed on a business trip. The stated death benefit is paid out regardless of how death occurs.

Does life insurance pay if you die of heart attack?

The answer to this question is usually: “Yes.” A heart attack, along with many other serious health problems, doesn't automatically eliminate you from being able to qualify for life insurance. At the same time, it's also important to realize that when you apply for coverage, you'll face a higher level of scrutiny.

Do I need both life insurance and AD&D?

AD&D insurance also provides a benefit for loss of life due to a covered accident. AD&D is usually included with your life insurance policy but you may be able to purchase it separately on a voluntary basis. If you choose AD&D insurance, any benefits would be payable in addition to your life insurance death benefit.

What happens in Double Indemnity?

Phyllis proposes to kill her husband to receive the proceeds of an accident insurance policy and Walter devises a scheme to receive twice the amount based on a double indemnity clause. When Mr. Dietrichson is found dead on a train track, the police accept the determination of accidental death.

Why is Double Indemnity a film noir?


In film noir, lighting implicitly develops key points around the story and the protagonists. It hides them from the audience's sight, and wraps the plot in enigmas and secret crimes. Yet Double Indemnity adds in an extra layer of complexity – lighting also reveals the hidden evils within the characters.

How many times does Walter Neff say baby?

He calls Phyllis 'baby' twelve times. He is shot, and dares her to shoot him again but she can't.

Is Double Indemnity a film noir?

Double Indemnity is a 1944 film noir directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom.

Who wrote Double Indemnity?

Billy Wilder
Raymond Chandler

What is the theme of double indemnity?


Like most hardboiled crime literature of the 1930s and 1940s, Double Indemnity paints a picture of humanity as corrupt and evil. Humans are self-serving and greedy, ruled by their baser passions. In this case, insurance salesman Walter Huff is driven by the desire for money, sex, and power.

Is Double Indemnity on Netflix?

Netflix USA: Double Indemnity is available on Netflix for streaming.