Concurrent Causation

What Does Concurrent Causation Mean?

Concurrent causation occurs when an event is the result of multiple causes. In insurance, losses or damages may have concurrent causes, which can complicate reimbursement if one cause is covered by the policy while another is not. However, it is common for the insured to be compensated when at least one of the concurrent causes is covered by the policy.

Insuranceopedia Explains Concurrent Causation

Concurrent causes jointly contribute to an event, but they do not need to occur at the same time. For example, a person’s death may result from an injury that is worsened by a preexisting condition. Although the preexisting condition predates the injury, both are considered causes of death.

The principle of concurrent causation originated from court cases in California during the 1970s and 1980s. These cases involved losses caused by excluded perils, such as floods or landslides, which were triggered by the negligence of third parties. The court rulings determined that, although the perils were excluded, the negligent acts also contributed to the events. Since the negligent acts were not excluded from the policies, insurers were required to cover these losses.