Will the damage to Sally's home, caused by a bear breaking down her back door, be covered under her HO-3 policy?

The open-peril nature of the HO-3 policy means that it covers all causes of loss unless specifically excluded in the policy terms. This is a key feature of open-peril coverage, as it provides broader protection for the policyholder. In this scenario, since the damage was caused by a bear breaking down Sally's back door, it would not fall under the typical exclusions for wildlife damage, making it eligible for coverage.

Many homeowners might worry about specific perils, but in the case of an open-peril policy like the HO-3, the focus is on what is not covered, not what is. Unless there is a clear exclusion for wildlife damage noted in the policy, the damage incurred from the bear would likely be covered. This highlights the importance of reviewing one's policy details to understand the extent of coverage and the circumstances under which claims may be accepted.