Under the exposure theory, injury is deemed to occur at the time of exposure to the harmful substance or condition, triggering the policies in force during that period.
It was among the earliest approaches developed in asbestos coverage litigation.
Alternative Names:
Exposure Theory, Injurious Exposure Trigger
Why it Matters?
The exposure trigger reaches older policies while excluding those in force during the latency period between exposure and disease, which produces a different set of triggered years than the continuous trigger. In occupational disease claims where exposure occurred over decades of employment, it can activate substantial historical coverage. Which theory a jurisdiction applies determines both the available limits and which carriers bear the loss.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How does exposure trigger differ from continuous trigger?
Which claims does it suit?
