Under open perils coverage for a loss involving multiple proximate causes, when is the loss covered?

• A. The loss is covered only if all proximate causes are covered
• B. The loss is covered if at least one proximate cause is covered
• C. The loss is covered only if there is a named peril
• D. The loss is never covered

Answer: (B)

Open perils coverage means the insurer covers losses from all risks unless a specific exclusion applies. When a loss involves multiple proximate causes, the policy will respond as long as at least one of those proximate causes is a peril the policy covers. In other words, if any contributing cause is within the coverage, the loss is paid. If every proximate cause is excluded, there is no coverage. This is why the correct idea is that the loss is covered if at least one proximate cause is covered. The other options don’t fit because open perils isn’t limited to all causes being covered, it isn’t restricted to named perils, and it isn’t “never covered.”