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.
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.
insurance / assurance
'die Versicherung' and 'die Haftpflicht' can both have to do with protection against costs in everyday life. 'Versicherung' is the general term for a contract that provides financial help in the event of certain kinds of damage or loss. 'Haftpflicht' first means the obligation to pay for damage that you have caused to others. In everyday language, however, people often use 'Haftpflicht' as a short form of 'Haftpflichtversicherung'. That is why the words can easily be confused. Strictly speaking, 'Versicherung' is the broader term, while 'Haftpflicht' means either the legal obligation or a specific type of insurance.
Nach dem Schaden am Fahrrad des Nachbarn meldet Tom den Fall seiner Haftpflicht.
After damaging the neighbor's bicycle, Tom reports the case to his liability insurance.
Die Versicherung des Autos kostet dieses Jahr mehr als vorher.
The car insurance costs more this year than before.