A qualifying term in a personal accident insurance in regard to the accidental external means’ causing ‘death or disablement’. ‘Violence’ emphasises the insurer’s intention to avoid liability for gradually operating causes of an internal nature. The degree of violence is not of any consequence. The smallest degree will suffice.

Emphasises the importance to the insurer of restricting personal accident cover to bodily cause by accidental external means. Anything which is external is also visible. Exceptions to this strict meaning arise in connection with the accidental taking of poison or the inhaling of gas. If a person consumes poison when they intend to take a prescribed medicine, the act is at least visible and a fortuitous element is involved.