Accident

An accident is a specific, unidentifiable, unexpected, unusual and unintended

external action which occurs in a particular time and place, with no apparent and
deliberate cause but with marked effects. It implies a generally negative probabilistic
outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up
to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its occurrence.
Experts in the field of injury prevention avoid use of the term 'accident' to describe
events that cause injury in an attempt to highlight the predictable and preventable
nature of most injuries. Such incidents are viewed from the perspective of
epidemiology - predictable and preventable. Preferred words are more descriptive of
the event itself, rather than of its unintended nature (e.g., collision, drowning, fall,
etc.)
Accidents of particularly common types (auto, fire, etc.) are investigated to identify
how to avoid them in the future. This is sometimes called root cause analysis, but
does not generally apply to accidents that cannot be deterministically predicted. A
root cause of an uncommon and purely random accident may never be identified,
and thus future similar accidents remain "accidental."

Definition
Narrowly defined, the designation may refer only to the event, while not including the
circumstances (facts surrounding) or results of the event; i.e., ‘accident’ is
constrained to an immediate incident, the occurrence of which results in an
unplanned outcome. In common use, however, ‘accident’ may include the entire
interacting circumstantial framework (chance, pre-existing, or uncontrolled
dynamically developing conditions; commonplace actions; random time and place;
participants; etc.) leading up to, including, and resulting from, the accident's
immediate occurrence. They may be followed by the common phrase OHHH EHHHH

Causes

Road accidents are common - thousands take place every year. While many of them are minor
fender-benders, others are major mishaps, often even leading to fatalities. The most common
cause of accident in road mishaps is human error. Determining the causes of the accident is
important for the victim, as it has a direct bearing on whether he or she is eligible to receive
compensation.

Here are some of the most common causes of accident for road crashes:

1. Substance abuse: Substance abuse is a major offender when it comes to road accidents.
Both legal and illegal consumption of substances are causes of accident. It includes consumption
of alcohol, recreational and prescription drugs to the extent that it impairs driver ability and
reflexes.

2. Speeding: Speeding accounts for nearly a quarter of all automobile accidents. Causes of
accident due to speeding may be rash driving, as in the case of joyriding youngsters, or just plain
careless driving, e.g. exceeding the speed limit in bad weather conditions.

3. Road layout and conditions: The road itself could be one of the causes of accident. Many
roads have well-known 'blind spots', where drivers coming from one side cannot see vehicles
coming from the other direction until it is too late. Also, roads become slippery during rain, snow,
hail, etc. As they wear, they develop cracks and potholes. Conditions such as these can also be
causes of accident

4. Vehicle failure: Breakdown of the mechanical components in a car is another reason behind
road accidents. The most common mechanical failures involve damage to the tyres and their
associated components. In addition, break, axle, and steering wheel failures are associated with
accidents.

5. Driver's fault: Some accidents are caused purely due to the driver's mistake. Distractions,
such as talking on the phone or to co-passengers, calming children or pets in the backseat, or
trying to retrieve fallen items are common causes of accident. Aggressive driving and
disregarding traffic rules also fall in this category.