Is It Really An Accident? (Part One)
Yes, I've been saying it for years, but I'm not sure why. Car "accident", truck "accident", motorcycle "accident". I think it's just learned habit, but probably not correct. Webster's Dictionary defines accident as:
Main Entry: ac·ci·dent
Pronunciation: \ˈak-sə-dənt, -ˌdent; ˈaks-dənt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin accident-, accidens nonessential quality, chance, from present participle of accidere to happen, from ad- + cadere to fall — more at chance
Date: 14th century
1 a : an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance b : lack of intention or necessity : chance (met by accident rather than by design)
2 a : an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance b : an unexpected and medically important bodily event especially when injurious (a cerebrovascular accident) c : an unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person injured but for which legal relief may be sought.
An unforeseen and unplanned event? An unfortunate event resulting from carelessness or ignorance? Maybe. An unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct? I just don't think that slamming your car into the back of another car on I-5 in Seattle or Everett, is unforeseen, unplanned or not due to any fault. I suppose that's my problem with the term accident, it really infers that no one is at fault, it was just an accident. If you just slammed your car into the rear of another car, it sure sounds like you're at fault....
(Part Two to follow)
