Act of God

Act of God, in law, any occurrence not caused by human intervention or negligence, such as lightning or floods. Because such events are beyond human control, ordinarily no person may be held legally responsible for the injuries and losses they may inflict. For example, a failure to deliver goods at the time contracted because unforeseeable floods have halted all transportation does not result in liability for legal damages. In this context, the exemption may not apply in the event of seasonal inundations such as monsoons. Most policies of insurance against property damage do not provide compensation for the consequence of acts of God. All standard fire insurance policies, however, do cover losses from fire caused by lightning; by the payment of an additional premium, so-called extended coverage is available to protect against damage from hazards such as the following: windstorms, hail, ice, snow, and falling trees.