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Civil liability insurance refers to coverage that offers financial compensation to cover costs arising from unintentional harm caused to third parties. This coverage is a key part of many insurance policies and is as a financial safeguard against unexpected events.

If you’re wondering what civil liability coverage is for, its primary purpose is to protect you financially when you are held responsible for personal injury or material damage to others, meaning you don’t have to pay compensation out of your own pocket.

 

What is civil liability in the Civil Code?

Civil liability is legally defined in the Spanish Civil Code, specifically in Article 1902, which states: “Anyone who, through their own actions or negligence, causes harm to someone else and is legally required to compensate them”.

This regulation sets forth that anyone who, through their own actions or negligence, causes harm to someone else and is legally required to compensate them. The law distinguishes between intentional harm and damage resulting from someones own actions or negligence; however, in both cases, there must be a direct connection between the conduct and the damage caused.

The main features of civil liability that covers damages are:

  • Restorative nature: Its purpose is to restore the victim to their original condition before the damage or to provide financial compensation
  • Strict liability: Typically, for someone to be held liable, it must be demonstrated that their actions were to blame or they were negligent. However, in certain cases, the law states that proving that damage occurred and that the person caused it is enough, without needing to establish fault.
  • Universality: Anyone can be held civilly liable for their actions or negligence
  • Transmissibility: The obligation to compensate can be passed on to heirs
  • Asset protection: The coverage safeguards the insured person’s assets against third-party claims, as long as the damage is covered by the policy and falls within the specified limits.

What does the civil liability included in an insurance cover?

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Depending on the type of insurance taken out and its specific terms, the civil liability coverage included in SegurCaixa Adeslas policies may protect against a number of different aspects such as:

  • Bodily damage to third parties: Unintentionally causing physical or psychological injury to others
  • Material damage: Damage to or destruction of other people’s property whether by accident or negligence
  • Legal defence costs: Legal costs arising from legal claims
  • Financial compensation: Monetary compensation for damage caused
  • Medical expenses: Health care for third parties affected by personal injury
  • Loss of earnings: Compensation for financial losses that the victim no longer earns, if expressly covered in the policy.
  • Moral damage: Compensation for emotional suffering or injury, in the cases covered by the insurance.

Types of insurance with Civil Liability coverage

Civil liability coverage is included as an additional guarantee in various SegurCaixa Adeslas products, complementing the main coverages, but it’s not offered as standalone insurance in these cases. They are the following:

It covers unintentional damage caused by the insured person, their family members, or domestic employees in their private life. Depending on the policy terms, it may also include damage resulting from water leaks, falling objects, or harm caused by pets within the home.

It includes legally mandated civil liability coverage, which protects against damages caused to third parties in traffic accidents.

Provides protection for the property owner or tenant against claims for damage or injury to third parties resulting from their activities. 

Covers, up to the specified limits, any damage or injuries the insured animal may cause to third parties or their property.

In all these cases, civil liability is a complementary coverage to the main guarantees of each type of policy, offering the insured peace of mind while protecting their assets.

Examples of situations in which Civil Liability insurance comes in handy

Imagine you’re away on holiday when a pipe bursts in your home, causing water damage to the apartment below. The civil liability coverage included in your home insurance would cover the financial compensation needed to repair the damage, sparing you from having to pay out of pocket—protecting your personal assets.

Your dog runs off when you are out for a walk and runs into the road, causing an accident—for example, a cyclist falls and gets injured. In this situation, the civil liability coverage in your pet insurance would cover both the cyclist’s injuries and any potential material damage to their bicycle.

If you work from home as a consultant and a client visits, but they accidentally fall down the stairs and get injured, you could be held responsible for negligence by not properly maintaining the premises. Civil liability coverage in your business insurance can help cover medical expenses and potential compensation, as long as the activity and location are included in the policy.

Having liability coverage included in your policies is of utmost importance because these situations can incur considerable expenses that could jeopardise your financial stability. SegurCaixa Adeslas’ comprehensive insurance gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are covered in the event of unforeseen events that could arise at any time.