Legal Definitions - culpable accident

Definition: A culpable accident is an accident that occurs due to negligence. It is different from an unavoidable accident, which is an accident that cannot be prevented by human skill or reasonable foresight.

Examples:

• A driver who causes an accident because they were texting while driving is an example of a culpable accident.
• An accident caused by a sudden illness or death is an example of an unavoidable accident.
• An accident caused by a lightning strike or earthquake is also an example of an unavoidable accident.

The examples illustrate the difference between a culpable accident and an unavoidable accident. In the first example, the accident was caused by the driver's negligence, making it a culpable accident. In the second and third examples, the accidents were caused by factors outside of human control, making them unavoidable accidents.