Changes

Accidents of particularly common types (auto, fire, etc.) are investigated to identify how to avoid them in the future. This is sometimes called root [[Causality|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."

Accidents of particularly common types (auto, fire, etc.) are investigated to identify how to avoid them in the future. This is sometimes called root [[Causality|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==

==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 [[dynamic]]ally developing conditions; commonplace [[action]]s; random time and place; participants; etc.) leading up to, including, and resulting from, the accident's immediate occurrence.

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 [[dynamic]]ally developing conditions; commonplace [[action]]s; random time and place; participants; etc.) leading up to, including, and resulting from, the accident's immediate occurrence.