ACCIDENT

An unforeseen event, occurring without the will or design of the person whose mere act causes it; an unexpected, unusual, or undesigned occurrence; the effect of an unknown cause, or, the cause being known, an unprecedented consequence of it; a casualty. Burkhard v. Travelers’ Ins. Co., 102 Pa. 262, 48 Am. Rep. 205; iEtna L. Ins. Co. v. Vandecar, 86 Fed. 282, 30 C. C. A. 48; Carnes v. Iowa Traveling Men’s Ass’n, 106 Iowa, 281, 76 N. W. 683, 68 Am. St Rep. 306; Atlanta Ace. Ass’n v. Alexander, 104 Ga. 709, 30 S. E. 939. 42 L. R. A. 188; Crutchfield v. Richmond & D. R. Co., 76 N. O. 320; Dozier v. Fidelity & Casualty Co. (O. C.) 46. Fed. 446, 13 L. R. A. il4; Fidelity & Casualty Co. v. Johnson, 72 Miss. 333, 17 South. 2, 30 L. R. A. 206. In its proper use the term excludes negligence; that is, an accident is an event which occurs without the fault, carelessness, or want of proper circumspection of the person affected, or which could not have been avoided by the use of that kind and degree of care necessary to the exigency and in the circumstances in which he was placed. Brown v. Kendall, 6 Cush. (Mass.) 292; United States v. Boyd (C. C.) 45 Fed. 851; Armijo v. Abeytia, 6 N. M. 533, 25 Pac 777; St. Louis, etc, R. Co. v. Barnett, 65 Ark. 255, 45 S. W. 550; Aurora Branch R. Co. v. Grimes, 13 111. 585. But see Schneider v. Provident L. Ins. Co., 24 Wis. 28, 1 Am. Rep. 157. In equity practice. Such an unforeseen event, misfortune, loss, act, or omission as is not the result of any negligence or misconduct in the party. Fran. Max. 87; Story, Eq. Jur.