What does occurrence insurance cover?

Asked by: Jaren Abbott V  |  Last update: October 10, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (33 votes)

An occurrence-based policy covers losses that happen during the time you have the policy, regardless of when you file a claim. It is designed to protect you against long-tail events – incidents that could cause injury or damage years after they occur.

What does an occurrence policy cover?

An occurrence policy covers claims made for injuries sustained during the life of an insurance policy, even if they're filed after the policy is canceled. They cater specifically to events that may cause injury of damage years after they occur, such as exposure to hazardous chemicals.

What is the difference between accident and occurrence in insurance?

The term "occurrence" encompasses more than just an accident because accident is narrower in scope than occurrence. This can be seen in those cases decided before the occurrence wording was adopted. Accident, according to these cases, did not include coverage for damage occurring over time.

Is it better to have claims made or occurrence insurance?

Claims-made policies are initially significantly less expensive than occurrence policies. The premium for a claims-made policy is lowest during the first year because the policy only covers incidents that occurred in the first year and are reported as claims in that year.

What is considered an occurrence?

occurrence. noun. oc·​cur·​rence. : something that takes place. especially : an accident, event, or continuing condition that causes personal or property damage that is unintended or unexpected from the standpoint of an insured party making a claim.

What is an Occurrence Insurance Policy?

23 related questions found

What is an example of an occurrence?

Getting headaches has become a common occurrence for her. Lightning is a natural occurrence.

Which of the following would not be considered an occurrence?

Final answer: An intentional act by the insured resulting in harm would not be considered an "occurrence" under a CGL policy and is therefore not covered, as CGL policies generally exclude coverage for intentional harms.

Can you switch from occurrence to claims made?

Claims-Made policies provide coverage for 'claims' only when BOTH the alleged incident AND the resulting 'claim' happen during the period the policy is in force! Switching from an "Occurrence" to a "Claims Made" form is the least perilous change.

What is the first thing an insurer must investigate before taking on a claim?

Insurance companies must search for and consider evidence that supports coverage for the claim. Thus, insurance companies cannot close their eyes to evidence that supports coverage and focus solely on the evidence that denies coverage. Too narrow a focus of investigation?

What is a per occurrence deductible?

A per-occurrence deductible means you're responsible for paying a predetermined deductible each time you file an insurance claim.

What is the occurrence limit for insurance?

An occurrence limit is the max an insurance company will cover per claim. The aggregate limit is the total claim costs an insurer will cover during a policy period, which is typically one year.

What is a single occurrence?

Single Occurrence means all causes or events which occur within 96 consecutive hours of the first cause or event causing loss or damage, shall be considered as one occurrence.

What is the reason for accident occurrences?

Drivers: Over-speeding, rash driving, violation of rules, failure to understand signs, fatigue, alcohol. Pedestrian: Carelessness, illiteracy, crossing at wrong places moving on carriageway, Jaywalkers.

Is a hospital liable for injury if someone falls on a wet floor despite clearly posted caution signs?

Property owners are supposed to inspect their properties for dangerous conditions, remove them promptly, or place warning signs. If someone visits a hospital and a hazard injures them, the hospital could be liable for the resulting medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.

What is the meaning of payment occurrence?

Payment Occurrence means the settlement or final adjudication (without any ability to further appeal by either party) as to all demands, claims, counterclaims, cross-claims, third-party-claims, damages, fees (including attorneys' fees), costs and expenses, brought and raised, on any matters arising from or related to ...

How does an insurer determine the settlement amount after a claim?

Insurance companies consider various factors when calculating settlement offers, including:
  1. Liability. The first thing an insurer looks at is who was at fault for the accident. ...
  2. Policy Limits. ...
  3. Severity of Injuries. ...
  4. Medical Treatment. ...
  5. Lost Wages. ...
  6. Property Damage. ...
  7. Pain and Suffering. ...
  8. Other Damages.

How long does it take for an insurance adjuster to make a decision?

Typically, insurance companies have 15 days to acknowledge receipt of the claim you submit. That does not mean they have to decide within that time frame. They then have 15 days to investigate the claim. They have 40 days to settle the claim from start to finish.

Can insurance tell when an accident happened?

Adjusters use many methods to get information for an insurance claim. They may start by reviewing the police report. This document has all the details of the accident including the time, location, and parties involved. Adjusters also review medical records to understand the injuries to the accident victim.

Why is occurrence better than claims made?

The advantage to an occurrence policy is its permanence. The period of time you are insured under an occurrence policy is protected forever by the policy you had that year. You do not need to renew or buy a tail when you leave.

How does an occurrence policy work?

What Is an Occurrence Insurance Policy? An occurrence policy provides coverage for incidents that happen during your policy period, regardless of when you file a claim. These policies can be more expensive than a claims-made policy because of how long coverage applies.

Should I get claims made or occurrence insurance?

In short, occurrence-based policies provide ample coverage as long as you keep renewing them. For this privilege, you'll generally pay more than you would for claims-made policies. With claims-made policies, the amount of coverage you purchase must last for as long as you keep your policy.

What counts as an occurrence?

An occurrence is an unscheduled absence or late arrival (Not protected by FMLA, WC, etc.). For example, arriving 30 minutes late would count as an occurrence and calling in to use sick leave, vacation, or comp time for a day would be an occurrence.

Which of the following events will not be covered by an insurance company?

​​​War and Nuclear Perils. Personal accident cover policies exclude injuries or deaths from war, terrorism or nuclear radiation. These events are considered high-risk and unpredictable, which is why these do not fall under compulsory personal accident cover.

What does bop cover?

If you own a small business, a business owner's policy (BOP) protects you from liability claims and lawsuits; safeguards your buildings, equipment and inventory; and helps cover you financially if your business unexpectedly shuts down from a covered loss.