Professional liability, often called malpractice, occurs when a licensed professional fails to perform their duties according to the accepted standards of their profession, causing harm to a client or patient. This is most commonly associated with doctors, surgeons, lawyers, accountants, architects, and engineers. The claim asserts that the professional’s negligence, error, or omission—such as a misdiagnosis, surgical mistake, or faulty financial advice—directly resulted in damages, injury, or financial loss that would not have otherwise occurred.

Insurance most commonly handles claims where you are found legally responsible for causing bodily injury or property damage to others. This includes incidents like a guest slipping and falling in your home, causing a car accident, or your dog biting a neighbor. It also covers claims of personal injury, such as libel or slander. The core function is to protect your assets by covering the other party’s medical bills, repair costs, and legal fees if you are sued, up to the limits of your policy.

Many states use “comparative negligence” rules. This means fault and financial responsibility can be split between drivers based on their percentage of blame. For example, if you are found 20% at fault for following too closely and the other driver 80% at fault for an illegal lane change, your compensation would be reduced by 20%. In some states, if you are found 50% or 51% or more at fault, you may be barred from recovering any compensation at all.