Glossary

The language of insurance can be quite complex and confusing. Below are some commonly used insurance terms and their meanings. Insurance professionals with whom you may come into contact should be prepared to explain these terms. If you don't understand, ask!

This information is for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon to form professional opinions on coverage issues.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

L

Lapse

An insurance policy which, having reached its expiry date, is not renewed or extended is said to have lapsed.

Lawyer's Professional Liability

Liability incurred by reason of an error or omission committed by a lawyer, or by some person for whose acts he or she is responsible, in the practice of the profession.

Lease

A contract by which one party, called the lessor, conveys to another, called the lessee, real estate, equipment or facilities for a specified term and for a specified rent.

Legal Expense Insurance

A form of insurance to cover types of legal expenses incurred by individuals; often written on a group basis.

Legal Liability

Liability imposed by law on individuals or corporations to pay for harm done to others. Such law may be the common law, statute law or customs which over a period of time have taken on the same status as law. Legal liability may also be assumed under the terms of a contract.

Lessee*

The person to whom a lease is granted. A lessee of real property is commonly called the “tenant.”

Lessor*

The person granting a lease.

Liability*

This is a legally enforceable obligation. Liability insurance pays for the damages or losses suffered by others for which the insured person is legally responsible.

Liability Insurance

Insurance which agrees to indemnify the insured for sums he may be required by law to pay to third parties as damages for bodily injury or damage to property.

Liability Limits*

The amount or amounts beyond which an insurance company does not protect a person insured for liability coverage. For example, a common liability limit for an auto insurance policy is $1 million. If a policyholder is successfully sued for more than $1 million, the balance of the judgment would be paid out of the policyholder’s pocket.

Liability Loss Exposures

The features of an individual risk to be taken into consideration by an insurer when underwriting a liability cover. These would include location and condition of premises, products made or distributed, work done away from the premises and so on.

Libel*

A written statement about someone that is personally injurious to that individual.

Lien

A charge upon real or personal property as security for some debt or duty. Also, the security interest created by a mortgage. The conditions of an insurance policy require the disclosure to the insurer of any existing lien on the insured property.

Like Kind and Quality (LKQ)

Refers to replacement of damaged, destroyed or lost property with used property of similar type and condition.

Limit of Liability

The maximum amount, as stated in the policy, which an insurer is bound to pay in case of a loss.
See also Liability Limits.

Limitation Period*

The period of time in which a claim may be brought by the policyholder.

Line

1) The type of policy issued by a company, e.g., fire line, automobile line, casualty line.

2) A given set of exposures making up an account. An underwriter may agree to accept, for example, fifty per cent of the line.

3) The classes of business written by an insurer, e.g., Personal Lines, or Commercial Lines.

Loss

A word often used in place of the word "claim." It refers to the amount an insurer must pay because one of the possibilities of loss insured against under a policy, has happened.

Loss of Use Insurance

Optional coverage purchased to compensate for the loss of use of property, if it cannot be used because of a loss covered by the policy. This is most common in auto insurance. For example, loss of use insurance will have the insurance company pay for the use of a rental car while the insured car is being repaired.

 

^Back to top