insurance

Anti-Concurrent Causation

Anti-concurrent causation is an insurance policy clause that excludes coverage when a covered peril and an excluded peril work together to cause a loss. Even if a covered cause contributed to the damage, the entire claim may be denied if an excluded cause was also involved.

Example

“The homeowner's flood damage claim was denied due to the anti-concurrent causation clause, even though wind damage was covered, because flooding was specifically excluded from the policy.”

Memory Tip

Think 'Anti-Concurrent' as 'Against Co-occurring' - when two causes happen together, the anti clause works against your coverage.

Why It Matters

This clause can significantly limit your insurance protection by denying claims that might otherwise be partially covered. Understanding these provisions helps you identify coverage gaps and consider additional policies, such as flood insurance, to protect against excluded perils that could trigger this clause.

Common Misconception

Many policyholders believe that if any covered peril contributes to their loss, they should receive at least partial coverage. However, anti-concurrent causation clauses can result in complete claim denial when excluded perils are involved, regardless of how much the covered peril contributed to the damage.

In Practice

During Hurricane Sandy, Tom's beachfront home suffered $150,000 in damage from both wind (covered) and storm surge flooding (excluded). His homeowner's policy contained an anti-concurrent causation clause. Even though wind damage alone might have caused $75,000 in damage, his entire claim was denied because the excluded flood peril occurred concurrently. Tom received no payment from his homeowner's insurance, highlighting the importance of having separate flood coverage for properties in flood-prone areas.

Etymology

The term combines 'anti' (against), 'concurrent' (happening at the same time), and 'causation' (the relationship between cause and effect), emerging in insurance law during the 1980s.

Common Misspellings

anti-concurent causationanti-concurrent causasionanti concurant causationanticoncurrent causation

Related Terms

Concurrent Causation Proximate Cause

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