I agree with GameGrl to a degree. We are all different in the way we react to good & bad news. If I thought I had a winning ticket I'd still check it and claim it before I died, so I could leave it to someone in my will. The man who won a million (see news forum) and found out he has only months to live wishes he didn't have an annuity, but he's still going to be able use the money to go on a vacation and pay medical bills. I think it's sad that he can't collect a lump sum, since he has no family, but I hope he leaves it to a good cause.
Maybe I don't have a heart, but when my Dad only had hours to live (according to the hospital - that was in 2004 and he's been on several cruises since) I still bought my lottery tickets before I drove 130 miles across the state, and I also checked my numbers when I took a break. Maybe a loss of a child would be different, because my mind would snap. Regarding a life threatening illness or surgery - been there/done that. Bought several advance plays.
I agree that people don't always just forget, but get tied up in other more important things like critical illness as mentioned. It's possible some people get into car accidents or even die before the drawing. I'm guessing the majority of unclaimed tickets are purchased by people who buy quick picks on a whim and forget to check the numbers or misplace the tickets, but there is no way to research this because of the subject matter (i.e., if they don't come forward, we can't ask!)
