Schadensfall

Schadensfall is a term used in German-language insurance and risk management to denote a concrete event that causes damage or loss and that may trigger a claim under a contract. The term is a compound of Schaden (damage) and Fall (case or event). In insurance, a Schadensfall occurs when an insured risk materializes. The insured party must typically report the event promptly to the insurer and provide evidence (photos, police report, repair estimates). The insurer assigns a case number and entrusts a claims assessor to determine whether the event falls under coverage, the extent of the damage, and applicable deductibles or limits. If covered, the insurer pays indemnity or arranges repairs, replacements, or other settlement. The process may involve subrogation against third parties if another party caused the damage.

Common Schadensfälle include property damage from fire or water, theft or vandalism, personal liability incidents, and business interruption losses. Not all events constitute a Schadensfall; many policies exclude certain risks or impose waiting periods, coinsurance, or limits.

The concept is used in risk management and accounting as well, to classify and quantify loss events for insurance, reserve calculations, or financial reporting.

Examples: a burst pipe causing water damage qualifies as Schadensfall under a property policy, subject to policy terms; a claim for damages caused by a neighbor may be handled under liability insurance.