Legal Definitions - manifestation theory

Manifestation theory is a concept in insurance that states that coverage for an injury or disease is provided by the policy in effect when the symptoms of the covered injury or disease first appear. This is in contrast to exposure theory, which holds that coverage is provided by the policy in effect when the injury-causing event occurred, and actual-injury trigger, which holds that coverage is provided by the policy in effect when the injury actually occurred.

For example, if someone was exposed to asbestos in the 1970s but did not develop mesothelioma until the 1990s, manifestation theory would hold that coverage is provided by the insurance policy in effect when the symptoms of mesothelioma first appeared, rather than the policy in effect when the person was exposed to asbestos.

Manifestation theory is often applied in cases where injuries or diseases have a delayed onset, such as with exposure to harmful chemicals or products. It ensures that individuals are able to receive coverage for their injuries or diseases, even if they were not immediately apparent.