Negligence

What Does Negligence Mean?

Negligence occurs when someone fails to act responsibly or exercise the level of caution that a reasonable person would in similar circumstances, resulting in avoidable harm or damage.

For instance, neglecting to repair a leaky pipe that eventually bursts would constitute negligence. Similarly, if a homeowner fails to shovel their icy driveway and a postman slips and gets injured, the postman could file a lawsuit against the homeowner for negligence.

Insuranceopedia Explains Negligence

Insurance policies typically exclude coverage for losses resulting from negligence. Since the policyholder could have prevented the loss through responsible actions, the insurance company is not obligated to provide compensation.

When a policyholder files a property damage claim, the insurance company dispatches an inspector to investigate before approving the payout. One key aspect of the investigation is checking for evidence of negligence. For instance, if a roof collapses, the inspector will examine the condition of the roof for signs of disrepair to determine if the collapse was avoidable.