Short Description: A lump sum payment made in the event of the death of an insured person as a direct result of an accident.

Long Description: A monetary compensation equal to the sum of the capital sum insured plus the sum of the accumulated cumulated benefit. In addition to the capital sum insured under the policy, certain other benefits are payable, such as funeral and transportation of the deceased, education fund for dependent children, and medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident, subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of the Policy provision. Also, a provision added to a life insurance policy that provides for the payment of an additional benefit in the event of accidental death; this is commonly referred to as “double indemnity”.  If the benefit is more than twice the principal sum, it is known as “multiple indemnity.”

A provision in a personal accident policy that pays either a specified lump sum or a multiple of the weekly disability benefit if the insured loses their sight or two limbs due to an accident. A smaller amount is payable for the loss of one eye, arm, leg, hand, or foot.

A term appearing in some personal accident policies referring to an unexpected, unintended, or unforeseen cause of an accident, involving at least an element of fortuity. Under such policies, the “means” or cause leading to the accident must itself be accidental, not merely the resulting injury. Typically, the policy specifies that the bodily injury must arise from accidental means “solely and independently of any other cause.”

For example, if an individual chopping wood loses grip of an axe and accidentally cuts his foot, this qualifies as accidental means. However, if his finger simply gets in the way of the axe, this would generally not constitute accidental means. Modern courts, however, tend to avoid distinguishing strictly between “accidental bodily injury” and “bodily injury caused by accidental means,” often interpreting both similarly.