Legal Definitions - damage

In a legal context, damage refers to the actual harm, injury, or loss experienced by a person or to their property. This harm can be physical, financial, or emotional. When such harm occurs, it often forms the basis for a legal claim seeking monetary compensation, which is then referred to as "damages."

• Example 1: Property Damage

  Imagine a scenario where a delivery truck accidentally backs into a homeowner's fence, knocking it down and breaking several panels. The broken fence represents the damage to the homeowner's property. The homeowner would then likely seek damages from the delivery company or their insurer to cover the cost of repairing or replacing the fence.

• Example 2: Personal Injury

  Consider a situation where a cyclist is hit by a car whose driver was distracted, resulting in the cyclist sustaining a concussion and a broken leg. The concussion, broken leg, and the associated pain and medical expenses are the damage suffered by the cyclist. The cyclist could then pursue a legal claim for damages to cover their medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

• Example 3: Financial Loss Due to Breach of Contract

  Suppose a catering company is hired to provide food for a large corporate event, but they fail to show up, causing the event organizer to lose a significant deposit and suffer reputational harm with their client. The lost deposit and the harm to the organizer's business reputation constitute the financial damage. The event organizer might then sue the catering company to recover damages for these losses.