Verlustfall

Verlustfall is a German term used in insurance, accounting and risk management to denote the event or condition that triggers a loss or the insurer’s liability. In insurance contracts, der Verlustfall (often described as der Versicherungsfall) is the insured event defined in the policy, such as fire, storm, theft or an accident. When the Verlustfall occurs and the contract conditions are met, the insurer owes compensation to the insured, subject to limits, deductibles and other policy terms. The term emphasizes the moment of loss realization rather than the extent of damage.

In accounting and finance, Verlustfall can refer to the realization of a loss or an impairment—when an asset or receivable loses value to a point where its carrying amount is no longer recoverable, a loss is recognized. In risk assessment, loss scenarios (Verlustfälle) are modeled to estimate potential financial impact and to determine capital or reserve requirements.

In practice, Verlustfall is sometimes used interchangeably with Schadenfall or Versicherungsfall, though nuances exist: Schadenfall describes the damage itself; Versicherungsfall describes the event that may trigger coverage. Policy documentation defines the exact scope of a Verlustfall, including which events are covered and what constitutes the loss.

Overall, the term serves as a functional descriptor of the moment of loss realization in contracts and financial reporting, guiding claims handling, valuation and risk management.