Health · Chapter 13 · Covered Perils
Accidental Means
Definition
The more restrictive definition of an accident: BOTH the cause AND the result must be unforeseen, unexpected, and unintended for a benefit to be paid.
Example
Same jump, opposite outcome: because Robert voluntarily performed the act that caused the injury, an "accidental means" policy pays NOTHING — even though he never intended to hurt himself.
Exam tip
⚠️ Trap: means = CAUSE + RESULT both accidental (restrictive) · results = RESULT only (liberal). A voluntary act kills the claim only under the MEANS definition.
Easy to confuse with
These are what this term gets tested against — if you can't tell them apart cold, drill the contrast.
Related terms