Accidental Means

What Does Accidental Means Mean?

Accidental means refer to events that occur as a result of an accident, rather than from an individual’s deliberate decision or action. Some insurance policies provide coverage only for accidental means and do not cover events that are caused deliberately by an individual or another actor.

Insuranceopedia Explains Accidental Means

Accidental means can result from someone’s deliberate action, but only if that action is not the proximate cause of the incident. For example, if a person deliberately walks across a slippery surface and accidentally slips and falls, the decision to walk is deliberate, but the slip and fall are accidental. Similarly, in auto accidents, the driver’s actions are deliberate, but the crash itself is typically considered accidental.

However, if a malicious person deliberately smashes an insured’s windshield with a baseball bat, this would not be considered an accidental means. If the insured’s policy excludes damage from deliberate actions, the loss would not be covered by the insurance company.