Legal Definitions - Property damage

Property damage

Property damage is when something is harmed or destroyed, either to real property (like a building or land) or personal property (like a car or furniture).

• A car accident that causes damage to the vehicle
• A fire that destroys a house
• A flood that damages a business's inventory

These examples illustrate property damage because they all involve harm or destruction to either real or personal property. In the case of the car accident, the vehicle is the personal property that has been damaged. In the case of the fire and flood, the real property (the house and business) have been damaged.

Property owners can protect themselves from the financial risk of property damage by obtaining property insurance. This type of insurance can help cover the costs of repairing or replacing damaged property.