Legal Definitions - accidental death

Accidental death refers to a death that occurs due to an unforeseen and unintended event, without any deliberate intent to cause harm by the deceased person or another party. It is not a result of natural causes, such as illness or old age, nor is it caused by intentional acts like suicide or murder. Instead, it arises from an unexpected incident or misadventure.

Here are some examples illustrating accidental death:

• Example 1: A hiker is caught in an unexpected rockslide while traversing a mountain trail and suffers fatal injuries.

  Explanation: The rockslide was an unforeseen and unintended event. The hiker did not intend to be harmed, and there was no deliberate act by another person to cause the death. This scenario clearly fits the definition of an accidental death, as it resulted from an unexpected environmental hazard.

• Example 2: While working on a home improvement project, an individual accidentally touches a live electrical wire, leading to electrocution.

  Explanation: The electrocution was not intended by the individual, nor was it caused by someone else's malicious intent. It was an unforeseen consequence of an action, making it an accidental death. The death was not due to natural causes but an unexpected mishap.

• Example 3: A passenger on a commercial flight dies as a result of a sudden and severe turbulence incident that causes the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly.

  Explanation: The death was a direct result of an unexpected and uncontrollable event (severe turbulence) that neither the passenger nor the airline intended to occur. It was not due to a pre-existing medical condition (natural causes) or an intentional act, thus qualifying as an accidental death.