Vahinko

Vahinko is a Finnish noun that denotes harm or damage resulting from an event. It can refer to personal harm (henkivahinko), such as injuries after an accident, or to damage to property (omaisvahinko), including damaged goods or buildings. The term also covers economic losses that arise from such harm. In everyday Finnish, vahinko is used for both accidental damage and liability situations, though onnettomuus is more common for outright accidents.

In legal and insurance contexts, vahinko is the subject of liability and compensation. When one party's fault or negligence causes vahinko to another, the responsible party may be obligated to pay vahingonkorvaus, i.e., damages or compensation. The assessment typically includes medical costs, lost earnings, repair or replacement costs, and other consequential losses. Insurance policies—such as motor, property, and liability insurance—are designed to cover vahinko within the policy terms, subject to deductibles and limits. The process generally involves notification, assessment of liability and damages, and settlement.

Common usages include references to personal injury or property loss in everyday life, industrial or workplace incidents, and consumer or product liability scenarios. The concept is central to Finnish civil liability law and to insurance practice, shaping remedies available to individuals and businesses for harms suffered due to others' actions or negligence.