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Simple English definitions for legal terms
accident
Read a random definition: avowtry
A quick definition of accident:
An accident is something that happens unexpectedly and causes harm or damage. It is not something that was planned or could have been predicted. For example, if you fall and hurt yourself while playing, that is an accident. However, if you intentionally hurt yourself or someone else, that is not an accident. Accidents can happen suddenly or slowly over time, and they can be caused by things like bad weather, natural disasters, or illnesses. Sometimes accidents are nobody's fault, but other times they happen because someone was not careful or did something wrong.
A more thorough explanation:
An accident is an unexpected and unintended event that causes harm or damage. It is something that could not be reasonably anticipated or does not occur in the usual course of events.
For example, a car crash caused by a driver running a red light is an accident because it was not intended and could not have been reasonably anticipated. On the other hand, a person intentionally jumping off a building and injuring themselves is not an accident because it was a deliberate act.
There are two types of accidents: culpable and unavoidable. A culpable accident is caused by negligence, while an unavoidable accident is caused by an irresistible physical cause that cannot be prevented by human skill or reasonable foresight. Examples of unavoidable accidents include accidents resulting from lightning or storms, perils of the sea, inundations or earthquakes, or sudden illness or death.
It is important to note that an accident can be either a sudden happening or a slowly evolving process. The degree of foreseeability and the state of mind of the actor in intending or not intending the result are the two criteria that determine whether an incident is an accident or not.