Understanding Insurance: Risk, Hazard, and Proximate Cause What is Insurance? Insurance is a method of mitigating losses sustained by individuals or businesses by collecting modest premiums from many people. This way, individuals who face unpredictable and unintentional losses can obtain protection through the payment of a defined cost, known as a premium. Essentially, the insured's risk is transferred to the insurer. Insurance has its origins in bottomry bonds issued by Mediterranean merchants as early as the fourth century BC. Today, there is insurance for various aspects of daily life, including business, auto, health, life, and travel, each with numerous sub-categories and divisions. Risk and Hazard Understanding Risk Risk represents the uncertainty of a loss occurring. It indicates an uncertain future outcome that can place us in a worse situation. Risk can be described as the prospect of loss, the uncertainty of loss, or a mix of hazards. Defining Hazard Hazard refers to ...