Hurricane insurance claims are particularly complicated because they often involve two different categories of damage: wind damage and flood damage.

Wind damage is typically covered by standard homeowner’s insurance, unless you live in an area where high winds are a common occurrence, like some coastal areas. Then you may be required to carry a wind-specific insurance policy, or rider.

Flood damage, on the other hand, is almost never covered under a standard homeowner’s insurance policy, and requires special flood insurance.

Concurrent causation is just a fancy term used when a claim event involves multiple types of damage that happen at the same time or in quick succession. This can become a problem for property owners if one of the damage types is not covered under the insured’s policy (or policies).  

Coverage Decisions on Claims with Concurrent Causation

In some cases, insurance carriers will still extend coverage for a portion of the damage if it can be proven that the covered peril was the proximate or predominant cause of a loss.

For example, if your property damage was caused by a combination of wind and flood damage—and you’re only insured for wind damage—your insurer may still offer you a settlement for the portion of damage caused by wind, depending on your policy language.

However, it is then your responsibility to prove what portion of the damage was actually caused by wind. If you can’t, your insurance carrier is likely to deny your claim outright.

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Wind damage is typically covered by standard homeowner’s insurance, unless you live in an area where high winds are a common occurrence, like some coastal areas. Then you may be required to carry a wind-specific insurance policy, or rider.Wind damage is typically covered by standard homeowner’s insurance, unless you live in an area where high winds are a common occurrence, like some coastal areas. Then you may be required to carry a wind-specific insurance policy, or rider. Texas has a unique “concurrent causation” analysis test that favors insurance company denials for those who do not carefully support their claims with opinion and factual evidence.” —Chip Merlin, Merlin Law Group

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If you’re dealing with a concurrent causation claim, hiring a licensed Public Adjuster to help with your claim really comes in handy. We know the telltale signs of property damage and can document and interpret the evidence to build a case for coverage.

This includes: relevant local meteorological data, prior inspection reports, damage estimates, maintenance records, and even getting an opinion from specialists like forensic engineers.

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Check your policy for Anti-Concurrent Causation clauses

Unfortunately, policies in many states include some form of anti-concurrent causation clause within the fine print. This means that if there are two causes to the damage, and one is not a covered loss, then the entire claim is subject to denial.

An anti-concurrent cause contractually nullifies your insurers’ obligation to pay for anything whenever concurrent causation is on the table. Here’s an example from Claims Journal of what such a clause might look like in your policy:

“We will not pay for loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by any of the following. Such loss or damage is excluded regardless of any other cause or event that contributes concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.”

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Don’t Risk Insufficient Coverage

Especially if you are in an area with frequent risk of hurricanes, review your homeowner’s policy carefully and consider taking out both a wind policy and flood insurance before storm season.

Depending on where your property is located, private insurance companies may refuse to insure your property for wind damage outright. If you live in a designated catastrophe area and have been denied coverage by at least one authorized insurer, you might qualify for wind and hail insurance through not-for-profit carriers like Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA).

Consult an insurance expert directly about your claim and policy language — contact our team at Tiger Adjusters.