General Insurance✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 2/5
An accident policy covers 'accidental bodily injury caused by an accident.' Which condition is LEAST likely to be treated as an accidental peril under the policy?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
An 'accident' for purposes of an accident policy is a sudden, unexpected, and unintended event. A condition that develops gradually — such as carpal tunnel syndrome from years of repetitive motion — is not traceable to a single sudden event and is generally classified as a sickness or occupational condition rather than an accidental bodily injury. Insurers look for a sudden, identifiable event; repetitive-stress conditions lack that sudden element and are typically excluded under accident-only coverage.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) A slip on a wet floor is a sudden, unexpected event producing a discrete injury; it fits the definition of an accidental peril.
- C) Lifting a heavy box is a sudden strain event; the resulting dislocation is a covered accidental bodily injury.
- D) A kitchen grease fire is a sudden, unexpected event that causes a discrete burn — a classic covered accident.
Memory hook
Sudden snap = accident. Slow wear = not. Accidents happen in an instant; conditions creep in over years.