property damage
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property damage
Damage that occurs to objects, vehicles, or buildings, as opposed to personal injury, where people are hurt.
Bei dem Auffahrunfall entstand glücklicherweise nur ein geringer Sachschaden.
Fortunately, the rear-end collision caused only minor property damage.
The word is a compound of 'die Sache' (thing/item) and 'der Schaden' (damage). The 's' in the middle is a linking sound that connects the two words. So it literally means 'damage to a thing.'
Der Sturm hat an vielen Häusern Sachschaden verursacht.
The storm caused property damage to many houses.
Common verbs with 'Sachschaden' (property damage) are 'verursachen' (to cause), 'entstehen' (to occur/arise), and 'anrichten' (to cause/do). People often also ask about the 'Höhe des Sachschadens' (extent/amount of the property damage).
Der Fahrer des Wagens hat den Sachschaden verursacht.
The driver of the car caused the property damage.
This word is very often used in police or insurance reports. A typical phrase after an accident is: 'Es entstand nur Sachschaden' (There was only property damage).
Zum Glück wurde niemand verletzt, es entstand nur Sachschaden.
Fortunately, no one was injured; there was only property damage.
damage / harm
'der Schaden' and 'der Sachschaden' both describe a negative consequence, especially when something breaks. 'Schaden' is more general: it can affect an object, but also a person, health, reputation, or money. 'Sachschaden' is more specific and means only damage to objects, vehicles, or buildings. The words can be confused because every 'Sachschaden' is a 'Schaden'. But not every 'Schaden' is a 'Sachschaden'. If people are injured or someone suffers financially, you do not simply say 'Sachschaden'.
Bei dem Brand gab es keinen Verletzten, aber der Sachschaden ist hoch.
There were no injuries in the fire, but the property damage is high.
Der Fehler hat der Firma großen Schaden gebracht.
The mistake caused the company great harm.