Originally Posted by
noimagination
Here we go again...
Webster's Dictionary:
accident
noun
ac·ci·dent |
\ ˈak-sə-dənt , -ˌdent , ˈaks-dənt
\Definition of accident
1a
: an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance Their meeting was an accident.
b
: lack of intention or necessity : CHANCE They met by accident rather than by design.
2a
: an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance was involved in a traffic accident
etc.
The first definition is considered the common/usual one.
Safety advocates (car or bicycle) prefer "collision" over "accident".
The reason why is the first definition.
To most people, "accident" suggests "unavoidable", which is not always the case and might be rare.
"Collision" is considered more neutral (it doesn't suggest "by chance" or "unavoidable").