When Insurance Meets Alien Invasion: A Subrogation Story

The other night, my geeky husband and I got into one of those “what if” conversations. He’d been rewatching an old sci-fi series, and over dinner he turned to me with a straight face and asked, “So, Michelle, what happens to insurance claims if aliens invade?”

Now, most people would laugh this off, but after years in subrogation, my brain immediately went to coverage, liability, and recovery. I humoured him – because let’s be honest, if anyone is going to draft a claim strategy during an alien invasion, it’s me.

First, property subrogation. Imagine a mothership parks itself over downtown Toronto, and the gravitational pull rips shingles off roofs. Who’s on the hook? The insurers will pay out homeowners, but guess who’s knocking on the galactic door to recover? That’s right, us. Only problem: does the Federation of Intergalactic Insurers have a branch office in Canada? (If so, I want their email.)

Then there’s auto subrogation. Picture a family SUV sitting safely in the driveway, only to get flattened when an alien scout ship uncloaks mid-air, loses control, and crashes right on top of it. No passengers inside, of course – just a very unfortunate vehicle. Classic uninsured motorist scenario. We’d be filing subrogated claims faster than you can say “close encounter.” And if the little green pilot tries to plead “sovereign immunity,” you can bet I’d still find a way to argue liability.

And of course, commercial losses. If a tractor beam abducts half the inventory at a warehouse, someone’s paying. Insurers will indemnify their clients, but subrogation means we’re pursuing extraterrestrial defendants – even if they live lightyears away. I may need to learn interstellar service of documents. (Small Claims Court just got a lot bigger.)

By the end of our chat, my husband was laughing, and I realized something: subrogation is really just about one thing – making sure the right party is held responsible. Whether that’s a careless tenant, an uninsured driver, or, apparently, an alien mothership captain, the principles don’t change.

So, while an alien invasion is unlikely, I’m oddly reassured. Because if it ever happens, I know exactly what to do: trace the liability, file the claim,  and somehow subrogate against the stars.

If you have questions about insurance subrogation (alien-related or otherwise), or need assistance from me and my team, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to help you recover what’s rightfully yours.