“An Act of God”, in legal terms, usually refers to a force of nature, such as a storm, tornado or hurricane, or floods or winds. There seems to be a misconception about acts of God when it comes to personal injury and property damage. Many people assume that an injury or damage that occurs due to an act of God automatically carries no liability. This is just not the case.
In some incidences, while the damages are directly created by an act of God, the underlying cause is negligence. For example, let’s say a house is built with such substandard workmanship that a typical storm causes it to fall apart. Even though the storm is an act of God, the builder may still be held liable if it can be proven that his inferior building practices were also responsible for the damages.
Another tragic example involves an incident at a summer camp on Long Island, New York in 2004. While waiting for a bus to take him home, a 4 year old boy was killed when a branch from a nearby tree fell and struck him on the head. Questions were raised about whether the property owners had properly maintained the grounds, as the branch had fallen from a tree that was decimated and rotted by carpenter ants. Similarly, the recent tragedy where 4 boy scouts were killed in an Iowa tornado raised questions of liability of the adult leaders in charge of the campout, as severe weather alerts had been issued for the area but the adults in charge did not evacuate or leave the camp grounds.
In cases of injury or damage involving acts of God where negligence may be underlying, it’s always a good idea to consult with an accident lawyer who will help you sort through the questions and will explain your rights.