A unilateral contract is a type of contract where one party, the promisor, makes an offer to the other party, the promisee, to pay them or provide a reward if the promisee performs a specific act. In a unilateral contract, only the promisor is legally obligated under the contract terms once the promisee performs the act. An insurance contract is an example of a unilateral contract because the insurer promises to reimburse losses if they occur after the insured pays the premium, with only the insurer then being obligated.
2. Definition of 'Unilateral Contract
In a unilateral contract, one party pays the other party to
perform a certain duty. If the duty is fulfilled, the party on
the other side of the contract is obligated to transfer the
specified funds. Only this party is under obligation of the
contract, whereas the acting party is not legally obliged to
perform the duty.
For example, if an individual places an advertisement in
the newspaper to provide an award in the event a
missing item is returned, that individual is obligated to
pay the award if the item is indeed returned.
3. Meaning
Contract arising where one party (the promisor) makes
an offer to pay another party (the promisee) in return for
the performance of an act, and the promisee gives his or
her assent by performing the said act. A reward offered
for providing certain information is an example of a
unilateral contract.
Type of contract in which only one of the contracting
parties is under an enforceable obligation
4. Why is an insurance contract a
unilateral contract?
In Unilateral contract, the promise of one party
is exchanged for a specific act of the other
party.
In insurance contract, the insured performs the
act of paying the policy premium and the
insurer promises to reimburse the insured for
any covered losses that may occur.
5. It must be noted that once the insured has paid
the policy premium nothing else is required on
his/her part.
Only insurer has covenanted any further
action and only the insurer can be held liable
for Breach of Contract.