incidental damages

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incidental damages" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal and business contexts to refer to damages that are not the direct result of a breach of contract but occur as a secondary consequence. Example: "The company was held liable for incidental damages resulting from the faulty product, which affected several customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Would the cost be "incidental damages" under §2- 715(1) or "consequential damages" under §2-715(2)?

Harvard University

Alyce L. Alfano, a lawyer representing the family, said they were seeking punitive and incidental damages, reimbursement of medical costs, court costs and attorney's fees, payment for a private school and a judgment in their favor.

The New York Times

The seller's damages, as Professor Palmer points out, include not only his expectation damages suffered through loss of his bargain, and his incidental damages such as broker's commissions, but also less quantifiable costs arising out of retention of real property beyond the time of the originally contemplated sale. 1 Palmer, Restitution §§ 5.4, 5.8 (1978).

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

These policy disasters spring from a common error: the assumption that incidental damage to the internet is an acceptable price in the service of your own goals.

The Guardian - Tech

We find nothing in these requirements to enlarge the zone of liability where an inhabitant of the city suffers indirect or incidental damage through deficient pressure at the hydrants.

Harvard University

If this were not enough, the government introduced an anti-terrorism law in July 2009 with provisions so broad that a peaceful blockade of public services or incidental damage to property during a public protest can be construed as terrorism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ms. Gund's kitchen had not had a face-lift in 25 years, and her initial impulse was just to buy new shelves and a sink from a showroom, avoiding the nightmare -- and any incidental damage to the artworks -- of a full renovation.

The New York Times

Logging operations (e.g. tree felling, log yarding or skidding) induce incidental damage to surrounding trees, proportional to logging intensity in conventional [6] or reduced impact logging [7].

Carbon Balance and Management

This is related to the killing methods used, in accipitrids, they use their talons to inflict organ damage and blood loss, whereas typical owls use their feet to constrict their prey to death, the talons serving only to hold the prey in place or provide incidental damage.

Wikipedia

None of the subjects in the Muscimol group had significant incidental damage.

Plosone

Thus, in both groups, CRs were of similar magnitude and well-timed throughout, with their peaks coinciding with the US, suggesting that there was no major incidental damage in these subjects.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incidental damages" in legal or business writing, clearly define what costs or losses are included to avoid ambiguity. Be specific about whether you are referring to costs like inspection fees, storage charges, or other related expenses.

Common error

Avoid using "incidental damages" interchangeably with "consequential damages". "Incidental damages" are direct costs incurred in dealing with a breach, whereas "consequential damages" are indirect losses resulting from the breach.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incidental damages" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition within a legal or business context. It is used to identify and categorize a specific type of financial loss or expense.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Academia

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incidental damages" is a noun phrase that identifies specific direct costs incurred due to a breach of contract. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is relatively rare in general usage but common in legal and business contexts. It is crucial to distinguish them from "consequential damages", which represent indirect losses. When using this phrase, specificity and clarity are essential to prevent ambiguity. The phrase is most frequently found in academia, news and media, and scientific publications. Ludwig's analysis suggests that understanding the nuances of "incidental damages" is critical for precise legal and business communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consequential damages

Refers to losses that are not a direct result of a breach but a consequence of it.

ancillary losses

Highlights the supporting or supplementary nature of the losses.

secondary harm

Focuses on the harm being a second-order effect.

unintentional damage

Emphasizes the lack of intent behind the damage.

collateral injury

Emphasizes the indirect or side-effect nature of the injury.

additional expenses

Highlights the financial aspect of incidental losses.

resulting costs

Focuses on the costs that occur as a result of something else.

indirect losses

Emphasizes the lack of direct causation in the losses.

related costs

Focuses on the costs being associated to something else.

supplementary expenses

Highlights that the expenses are additional or extra.

FAQs

What are some examples of "incidental damages"?

Examples of "incidental damages" include costs incurred for inspecting, storing, or reselling goods after a breach of contract. These are the direct costs of dealing with the breach itself.

How do "incidental damages" differ from "consequential damages"?

"Incidental damages" are the immediate costs of handling a breach of contract, while "consequential damages" are the broader losses that result indirectly from the breach. For example, lost profits due to a delay might be "consequential damages".

What is the legal significance of "incidental damages"?

In contract law, "incidental damages" are a type of monetary compensation that a non-breaching party can recover from the breaching party. They aim to cover the expenses directly caused by the breach.

Are "incidental damages" always recoverable in a breach of contract case?

While generally recoverable, the specifics depend on the jurisdiction and the terms of the contract. The non-breaching party must prove that the "incidental damages" were reasonably foreseeable and directly resulted from the breach.