Согласно страховому полису, страховщик возместит ущерб.

Because согласно requires the dative case.

• страховой полис = nominative, the dictionary form
• согласно страховому полису = dative, after согласно

Both words change because the adjective must agree with the noun:

• страховой → страховому
• полис → полису

So the pattern is:

• согласно + dative

Here согласно means according to.

In modern Russian, it is most commonly used as a preposition in sentences like this, and it governs the dative case:

• согласно договору = according to the contract
• согласно закону = according to the law
• согласно страховому полису = according to the insurance policy

It has a slightly formal or official feel, which fits insurance and legal language well.

The opening phrase is being treated as a detached introductory circumstance: According to the insurance policy, ...

In Russian, a phrase like this at the beginning of a sentence is often separated by a comma, especially in formal writing or when the writer wants a small pause.

So this version is natural:

• Согласно страховому полису, страховщик возместит ущерб.

You may also sometimes see no comma in similar sentences, especially if the phrase is felt to be tightly connected to the predicate. But with this formal opening phrase, the comma is very normal.

Возместит is future tense, 3rd person singular, from the perfective verb возместить.

It means the insurer will compensate / will reimburse the damage as a completed result.

Why perfective here?

• insurance policies usually talk about a concrete future result
• the idea is not the process of compensating, but the fact that compensation will be made

Compare:

• возместит = will compensate, will make good on it
• будет возмещать = will be compensating, will compensate over time/process-wise
• возмещает = compensates / is compensating

In this sentence, возместит is the most natural choice.

Ущерб is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of возместит.

The reason it looks unchanged is that it is an inanimate masculine noun. For inanimate masculine nouns, the accusative singular is usually the same as the nominative singular.

So:

• nominative: ущерб
• accusative: ущерб

That is completely normal in Russian.

Russian shows sentence roles partly through case and partly through verb agreement.

Here is the structure:

• страховщик = nominative singular, the subject
• возместит = will compensate
• ущерб = accusative object, the thing being compensated
• согласно страховому полису = according to the insurance policy

So:

• страховщик is the one performing the action
• ущерб is what gets compensated

Even if the word order changes, the cases help you identify the roles.

Yes. Russian word order is flexible, though not random.

For example, you could also say:

• Страховщик возместит ущерб согласно страховому полису.

This is a bit more neutral in flow: subject + verb + object + qualifying phrase.

The original version:

• Согласно страховому полису, страховщик возместит ущерб.

puts emphasis first on the basis or authority for the statement: the insurance policy.

So the difference is mainly about focus and style, not basic meaning.

Страховщик is a more formal/legal term meaning insurer.

It refers to the party that provides insurance and is legally responsible under the policy. In legal or contractual language, this word is very common.

By contrast:

• страховая компания = insurance company

That is more everyday and concrete. In many contexts they may refer to the same real-world entity, but страховщик sounds more precise and official.

These words overlap, but they are not identical.

• ущерб = damage, loss, detriment; often material, financial, or legal
• вред = harm; often broader, including physical or moral harm
• убытки = losses, especially financial losses

In insurance/legal contexts, ущерб is very common for damage that can be compensated.

So in this sentence, ущерб fits very well.

The main stress patterns are:

• соглáсно
• страховóму
• пóлису
• страховщи́к
• возмести́т
• уще́рб

Stress matters in Russian, so it is worth learning these together with the words themselves.

Yes. Страховому is the dative singular masculine/neuter form of the adjective страховой.

It agrees with полису, which is also dative singular masculine.

So the agreement is:

• adjective: страховому
• noun: полису

This is a standard Russian pattern: adjectives change to match the noun in gender, number, and case.

So once согласно forces the noun into the dative, the adjective must go into the dative too.