Road Traffic Injury vs Accident

One of the painful shocks after the collision was when paramedics and Emergency Department (ED) staff kept calling it accident. The first time they used it was when paramedic come to me and asked:

- Are you the person who was involved in an accident.

- No. - I replied. - I was hit by a car.

I was disoriented and did not realized that they may call it an accident. However, I thought it is unlikely that someone else got accidentally injured near by, so they must be here for me. "They just have been misinformed" - I thought.

Term relates to attitude

The clear link between usage of term and attitude towards people was clearly demonstrated when I came to ED.

- Bicycle accident - paramedic introduced me to ED nurse handing my papers.

- Another one - replied nurse and nodded her head towards young man sitting in wheel chair.

- You would think none should be left by now. - continue paramedic, - Stay at home if you can not afford a car.

- Foreigners. - replied nurse. - They came to our country, but can not buy a car...