Alabama Property and Casualty Practice Exam

If you are hit by a Greyhound bus, what is that incident categorized as?

1. an accident only

2. an occurrence only

3. both an accident and an occurrence

4. neither an accident nor an occurrence

The correct answer is: both an accident and an occurrence

The incident of being hit by a Greyhound bus is categorized as both an accident and an occurrence because these terms describe different aspects of the same event. An accident typically refers to an unintentional event that results in injury or damage. In this case, being struck by a bus is an unexpected incident that causes harm, clearly defining it as an accident. On the other hand, an occurrence is a broader term that encompasses any event that causes loss or damage, whether it is intentional or unintentional. The incident involving the bus meets the criteria of an occurrence because it results in injury and potentially generates liability, making it relevant under insurance policies that address such events. Thus, the incident qualifies as both an accident, due to the nature of the event being unplanned and harmful, and an occurrence, due to the implications for liability and coverage.