What is the term for the physical harm to goods due to accidents?

The term for the physical harm to goods resulting from accidents is known as product damage. This encompasses various scenarios where goods are physically impacted, whether through breakage, spoilage, or other forms of deterioration that occur due to unforeseen incidents. Understanding product damage is crucial for businesses as it can affect inventory levels, lead to financial loss, and impact customer satisfaction.

In contrast, while product defect refers to issues that arise from flaws in manufacturing or design before the product reaches the consumer, property loss typically relates to the loss of valuable items or property due to theft or other incidents rather than physical harm. Inventory theft involves the loss of stock due to criminal acts, which is distinct from damage incurred during accidents. Therefore, the accurate term for the harm caused to goods during accidents is product damage.