In the context of casualty insurance, what is "property damage"?

Property damage, in the context of casualty insurance, refers to physical damage that occurs to a person’s property as a direct result of an insured event. This includes scenarios that involve destruction or harm to the physical property that can be quantified and valued in monetary terms.

This definition is critical because it forms the foundation of many insurance claims and policies, outlining what is covered under a typical casualty insurance agreement. By focusing on physical damage, the insurance policy provides coverage for incidents such as fire, water damage, vandalism, or accidents involving vehicles that result in tangible harm to property.

The other options do not align with the standard definition of property damage in insurance. For example, the loss of use without physical damage indicates that the property itself remains intact, which does not constitute "property damage." Emotional harm is related to psychological impacts rather than tangible harm to property, and while theft can lead to a property loss, it is classified differently in insurance context than physical damage. Thus, the accurate choice highlights the importance of physical damage to property as central to casualty insurance claims.