liability / liability insurance
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liability
The legal obligation to pay for and compensate damage that one has caused to another person or to their property.
Jeder Radfahrer unterliegt der Haftpflicht, wenn er einen Unfall verursacht.
Every cyclist is subject to liability if they cause an accident.
liability insurance
Short for liability insurance; an insurance policy that covers the costs of damage one has caused to third parties.
Zum Glück habe ich eine gute Haftpflicht, die den Wasserschaden beim Nachbarn bezahlt.
Fortunately, I have good liability insurance that will pay for the water damage at my neighbor’s place.
The word is made up of 'haften' (to be liable/responsible for damage) and 'die Pflicht' (duty/obligation). So it literally describes the obligation to be liable for damage caused.
Wer einen Schaden verursacht, unterliegt der gesetzlichen Haftpflicht.
Anyone who causes damage is subject to legal liability.
The meaning 'insurance' is very common in everyday life. You can recognize it from the fact that someone 'hat' (has) or 'abschließt' (takes out) eine Haftpflicht, or that the Haftpflicht 'bezahlt' (pays for) something. You do not 'have' the legal obligation (meaning 1); you are 'unterliegt' (subject to) it.
Meine Haftpflicht hat den Schaden schnell reguliert.
My liability insurance settled the claim quickly.
When 'Haftpflicht' is used as a short form for the insurance policy, it is often combined with verbs like 'abschließen' (to take out), 'haben' (to have), or 'brauchen' (to need). It is one of the most important types of insurance in Germany.
Jeder sollte eine private Haftpflichtversicherung abschließen.
Everyone should take out personal liability insurance.
liability / traction
Haftung is the broader term for the legal obligation to be liable for damage or debts. Haftpflicht specifically refers to the obligation to compensate for damage one has caused to another person or their property.
Die Haftpflicht des Fahrers betrifft besonders den Schaden am Auto der anderen Person.
The driver's liability particularly concerns the damage to the other person's car.
Nach dem Unfall klärt das Gericht die Haftung des Fahrers für die entstandenen Schäden.
After the accident, the court is determining the driver's liability for the resulting damage.
