A cause of loss that your homeowner’s insurance policy covers — the specific event or force that damaged your property and that determines whether your roof claim qualifies for payment.
Table of Contents
- What a Peril Is
- Perils vs. Exclusions
- Covered Perils in Colorado Roof Claims
- Perils That Are Not Covered
- The Role of Perils in the Claims Process
- Concurrent Causation
- Common Questions
- How Claim Advocacy Helps
- Related Glossary Terms
What a Peril Is
In insurance terms, a peril is the specific cause of damage to your property — the event that creates a loss.
Examples of perils include:
The key question in every claim is:
Was the damage caused by a covered peril?
If yes — the claim can be paid.
If no — the claim can be denied.
Perils vs. Exclusions
- Perils — causes of loss that may be covered
- Exclusions — causes of loss that are not covered
How they interact depends on policy type:
- Named Peril Policy — only listed perils are covered
- Open Peril Policy — everything covered unless excluded
Together, they define your actual coverage.
Covered Perils in Colorado Roof Claims
Hail
The most common cause of roof damage in Colorado.
Wind
Causes shingle lifting, loss, and flashing damage.
Weight of Ice and Snow
Structural stress from accumulation.
Ice Dam
Water intrusion from freeze-thaw cycles.
Falling Objects
Tree limbs and debris impacting the roof.
Fire and Lightning
Less common but universally covered.
These perils form the majority of Colorado roof claims.
Perils That Are Not Covered
- Flooding
- Normal Wear and Tear
- Earth movement
- Intentional damage
- Poor maintenance
These are typically excluded under standard policies.
The Role of Perils in the Claims Process
Claim Filing
You identify the cause of damage (peril).
Inspection
The adjuster evaluates whether damage matches the claimed peril.
Dispute
Most disagreements are about causation — not coverage.
Peril identification drives the entire claim.
Concurrent Causation
When both a covered peril and an excluded cause contribute to damage:
- Concurrent Causation applies
- ACC clauses may limit coverage
This is a common issue in older roofs with both aging and storm impact.
Common Questions
What if I don’t know what caused the damage?
A professional inspection can identify the likely peril.
Can multiple perils apply?
Yes — hail and wind often occur together.
Is hail always covered?
Yes — but you must prove it caused the damage.
Why would a claim be denied if the peril is covered?
Because the carrier disputes causation or applies an exclusion.
How Claim Advocacy Helps
- Storm verification — confirming peril occurrence
- Causation documentation — linking damage to event
- Damage pattern analysis — matching evidence to peril
- Exclusion review — countering denial arguments
- Claim positioning — aligning facts with policy
Related Glossary Terms
- Named Peril Policy
- Open Peril Policy (All-Risk Policy)
- Exclusion
- Causation
- Concurrent Causation
- Hail Damage
- Wind Damage
- Normal Wear and Tear
- Loss
- Coverage
A peril is the foundation of every insurance claim. If you can clearly show that a covered peril caused your damage — and prevent the carrier from reclassifying it as an excluded cause — you control the outcome of the claim.
📞 (719) 210-8699
📧 gerald@winik.io