What Does Physical Damage Include? Know What You're Covered For

Defining Physical Damage in Insurance and Everyday Life

Let’s break it down right away — physical damage generally refers to any visible, tangible harm to property or vehicles. This isn't about emotional stress or financial loss. It’s what you can see, touch, or measure.

In insurance terms, physical damage usually applies to your car, home, electronics, or business assets, depending on the policy. But, surprise surprise, it doesn’t always include everything. So let’s clear the fog.

What’s Typically Included in Physical Damage Coverage?

Collision damage

This one’s easy to picture. You hit another car. Or a wall. Or… a shopping cart that had a personal vendetta.

• Cracked bumper

• Dented fender

• Shattered headlights

• Deployed airbags

• Frame damage

If your vehicle hit or got hit by something, that’s collision. Covered under most comprehensive or collision policies.

Comprehensive damage (aka “non-collision” stuff)

Now, what if your car is damaged without a crash?

• Tree falls on it?

• Hailstorm from hell?

• Someone keys it out of jealousy?

• It catches fire?

That’s comprehensive damage, and yes, it falls under the physical damage umbrella — just a different category. One you really, really want if nature hates your parking habits.

Theft and vandalism

Not everyone thinks of theft as "damage", but if someone breaks your window to steal your stereo — guess what — that's physical damage. And vandalism? Spray paint on your hood? Oh yeah, that's in too. Annoying, but covered (hopefully).

What's Not Included (and Might Catch You Off Guard)

Mechanical breakdowns

Here’s where things get dicey. A blown engine isn’t usually “physical damage” unless it was caused by something external. Like… you hit a deer and cracked your radiator. That counts.

But if your transmission just gives up one day? That’s on you (or your warranty, if you’re lucky).

Wear and tear

Let’s say your paint starts fading or your tires go bald. That’s not covered. Physical damage doesn’t mean "everything that goes wrong." It means something happened suddenly, by accident, not slowly over time.

Oh, and rust? Yeah... never covered. Sorry.

Physical Damage in Other Contexts (Not Just Cars)

Home insurance

Physical damage in your home might include:

• Fire and smoke

• Burst pipes (ugh, nightmare)

• Storm damage

• Fallen objects (like that tree you swore looked unstable)

Again, the key is: sudden and accidental.

Normal aging of your roof, crumbling foundation, or that weird mold in the corner of your basement? Probably not covered.

Electronics and gadgets

Ever dropped your phone and shattered the screen? That’s physical damage. And if you bought an extended warranty or protection plan, you might be in luck.

But spilled coffee on your laptop? Tricky. Some plans consider that accidental damage. Others say nope, liquid’s a whole different beast.

Why Physical Damage Coverage Matters More Than You Think

Peace of mind (especially if you drive a lot)

Whether it's your car or your home, accidents happen. Not just big ones — stupid little ones too. Like backing into your garage door. (Been there, done that. It creaked for weeks.)

Having the right kind of physical damage coverage can save you thousands — and keep your sanity intact.

It’s often required

If you lease or finance a vehicle, the lender will probably require you to carry physical damage insurance. Makes sense — the car isn’t fully yours yet, and they want it protected.

Same for some business insurance policies. You can’t just not fix something and pretend it’s fine. (Though, hey, I’ve tried.)

Final Thoughts: Physical Damage Is Obvious... Until It Isn’t

So, what does physical damage include?

• Collisions

• Weather events

• Vandalism, theft, fire

• Falling objects, accidental breakage

But not: wear and tear, engine failure, or neglect.

It’s not just about what's broken — it’s about how it broke.

And if you're still unsure? Read that fine print in your policy. Or better yet, ask your insurer like a human being. Because knowing what’s covered — and what isn’t — might save your wallet the next time things go smash.

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The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

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Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

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Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

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Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.