Insurance Case Digest: De la Cruz v. Capital Ins. & Surety Co, Inc. (1966)

G.R. No. L-21574 June 30, 1966
Lessons Applicable: Liability of Insurer for Suicide and Accidental Death (Insurance)

Laws Applicable:

FACTS:

Eduardo de la Cruz, employed as a mucker in the Itogon-Suyoc Mines, Inc. in Baguio, was the holder of an accident insurance policy "against death or disability caused by accidental means"
January 1, 1957: For the celebration of the New Year, the Itogon-Suyoc Mines, Inc. sponsored a boxing contest for general entertainment wherein Eduardo, a non-professional boxer participated
In the course of his bout with another non-professional boxer of the same height, weight, and size, Eduardo slipped and was hit by his opponent on the left part of the back of the head, causing Eduardo to fall, with his head hitting the rope of the ring
He was brought to the Baguio General Hospital the following day. He died due to hemorrhage, intracranial.
Simon de la Cruz, the father of the insured and who was named beneficiary under the policy, thereupon filed a claim with the insurance company
The Capital Insurance and Surety co., inc denied stating that the death caused by his participation in a boxing contest was not accidental
RTC: favored Simon

ISSUE: W/N the cause of death was accident

HELD:YES.

as used in insurance contracts, have not acquired any technical meaning and are construed by the courts in their ordinary and common acceptation
happen by chance or fortuitously, without intention and design, and which is unexpected, unusual, and unforeseen
event that takes place without one's foresight or expectation
event that proceeds from an unknown cause, or is an unusual effect of a known cause and, therefore, not expected

where the death or injury is not the natural or probable result of the insured's voluntary act, or if something unforeseen occurs in the doing of the act which produces the injury, the resulting death is within the protection of policies insuring against death or injury from accident
while the participation of the insured in the boxing contest is voluntary, the injury was sustained when he slid, giving occasion to the infliction by his opponent of the blow that threw him to the ropes of the ring is not
The fact that boxing is attended with some risks of external injuries does not make any injuries received in the course of the game not accidental
In boxing as in other equally physically rigorous sports, such as basketball or baseball, death is not ordinarily anticipated to result. If, therefore, it ever does, the injury or death can only be accidental or produced by some unforeseen happening or event as what occurred in this case
Furthermore, the policy involved herein specifically excluded from its coverage —

(e) Death or disablement consequent upon the Insured engaging in football, hunting, pigsticking, steeplechasing, polo-playing, racing of any kind, mountaineering, or motorcycling.