What term describes losses from ongoing exposure to conditions that cause unintended injury or damage?

The term that describes losses from ongoing exposure to conditions that cause unintended injury or damage is "occurrence." In insurance terminology, an occurrence refers to an incident or a series of incidents that happen over time, resulting in loss or injury. This concept emphasizes that the damage can result from cumulative exposure rather than a singular, identifiable incident.

For example, if a property is exposed to a pollutant over many months, the resultant damages and liabilities can be categorized as an occurrence. This distinction is important in the context of liability insurance, where coverage is often triggered by occurrences that contribute to losses. Understanding this term helps in grasping how insurance policies address claims related to long-term exposure situations, allowing for broader coverage in cases where continual exposure leads to damage, rather than limiting coverage to isolated events.

The other terms, while related, do not encapsulate the ongoing nature of exposure and the resulting damages that an occurrence does. An "accident" typically refers to an unexpected event causing damage at a specific point in time, while "incident" is a general term that can refer to any noteworthy event but doesn't imply ongoing exposure. "Event" is also broader, encompassing various happenings that can vary in duration and impact, but lacks the specificity associated with ongoing consequences