Occurrence
Another word for an accident - in insurance, occurrence refers to bodily injury or property damage that happens when your policy is active.

Another word for an accident - in insurance, occurrence refers to bodily injury or property damage that happens when your policy is active.
An occurrence is another word for an accident – in insurance, it refers to any bodily injury or property damage that happens when your policy is active.
An occurrence is an accident that results in damage to your property or yourself. It has to happen during your policy term (otherwise it won’t be covered by your insurer), and can include continuous exposure to the same harmful condition.
When an occurrence happens, it’s on you to notify your insurer by filing a claim.
Your insurer will help you with the occurrence up to your limit of liability, which is a number you chose when buying a policy that represents the max amount they’ll pay in case something bad happens. Anything above the limit falls on you. So say you have $100K in your personal liability renters insurance but you’re being sued for $500K, you’ll have to cover that gap.
Let’s break down some common scenarios to see how occurrences work in insurance:
Any intentional acts are not covered, nor is negligence. So remember: friends don’t let friends drive drunk. If you do, your liability as a host may not be covered.
So something happened. What’s next?
Luckily, it’s all set out in your policy in the ‘Duties After Occurrence’ section.
Here are the main responsibilities you have and steps you need to take when an occurrence happens:
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage and discounts may not be available in all states.
Please note: Lemonade articles and other editorial content are meant for educational purposes only, and should not be relied upon instead of professional legal, insurance or financial advice. The content of these educational articles does not alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. While we regularly review previously published content to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date, there may be instances in which legal conditions or policy details have changed since publication. Any hypothetical examples used in Lemonade editorial content are purely expositional. Hypothetical examples do not alter or bind Lemonade to any application of your insurance policy to the particular facts and circumstances of any actual claim.