GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 19, 2026

claim for damages

A claim for damages is the legal right of an injured party to seek monetary compensation from a carrier or freight forwarder for cargo loss, damage, or delay.

Last updated: 19 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__249.html

Category

Logistics Concept

Reading time

1 min

Words

123

Mentioned in

–

A claim for damages is the legal right of an injured party to seek monetary compensation from a carrier or freight forwarder for cargo loss, damage, or delay. The right arises when harm can be causally linked to a breach of contract or negligence on the carrier's part. In day-to-day freight operations, the claim must typically be filed in writing within strict time limits that vary by transport mode and governing law. The applicable liability regime – CMR for road transport, the Montreal Convention for air freight, or national legislation such as the HGB – determines both the procedural requirements and the scope of recoverable loss. Not to be confused with limitation of damages, which caps the amount that can actually be recovered.

Next steps

Tools that match this term

Calculate transit timeEstimate duration per transport modeOpen Calculate transport costWork out freight / road costOpen Calculate volumetric weightDetermine the chargeable weightOpen

Related Terms

You might also be interested in these terms

Claim due to damage

A shipment arrives, the consignee opens the packaging and finds damaged goods – the immediate next step is filing a damage claim. …

Learn more

recourse claim

Unlike a primary damages claim, a recourse claim presupposes that the claimant has already paid compensation on behalf of another …

Learn more

Claim escalation

Unlike routine first-level claim handling, claim escalation refers to the formal referral of an unresolved transport dispute to a …

Learn more

Claim comparison

A forwarder receives a damage claim from the shipper while simultaneously filing its own claim against the sub-carrier – a classic…

Learn more

Insurance claim number

A claim number is a unique reference identifier assigned by the insurer or claims authority upon registration of a loss event. It …

Learn more

Claim Filing Freight

Claim filing in freight is a formal legal demand—distinct from a routine damage notification—by which a shipper, consignee, or ins…

Learn more

Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox

Weekly: Top news, industry facts and insights from the world of logistics – free.

claim for damages

Next steps

Related Terms

Claim due to damage

recourse claim

Claim escalation

Claim comparison

Insurance claim number

Claim Filing Freight

Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox

Community Questions & Answers