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Peril

What it means
A cause of loss named or contemplated by an insurance policy — fire, theft, wind, and hail are everyday examples.
Tennessee example
A spring hailstorm in Murfreesboro is a peril your homeowners or auto comprehensive discussion may address; flood is often a separate peril conversation.
Why it hits your wallet
Policies cover (or exclude) perils; knowing which storm or accident type you're talking about prevents 'I thought that was included' surprises.

Open-peril (all-risk style) forms cover sudden accidental losses except what’s excluded; named-peril forms only list covered causes. Either way, exclusions like flood or earth movement still matter in Tennessee.