car/traffic accident

Question

What is the difference between a car accident and a traffic accident? Thanks

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Not much. I suppose a car accident could have the car hitting a tree, or just going off the road, while a traffic accident involves other cars.

Yoong Liat · Answer

Grammar GeekNot much. I suppose a car accident could have the car hitting a tree, or just going off the road, while a traffic accident involves other cars.

IMO, 'A traffic accident may involve not only other cars, but other vehicles as well.'

BarbaraPA · Answer

Yes, other vehicles. But you can have a one-car accident. You can't have a one-car traffic accident.

Yoong Liat · Answer

Grammar GeekYes, other vehicles. But you can have a one-car accident. You can't have a one-car traffic accident.

I agree with you. When cars or other vehicles are involved, the term is 'traffic accident'.

Avangi · Answer

Grammar GeekNot much. I suppose a car accident could have the car hitting a tree, or just going off the road, while a traffic accident involves other cars.

(This is such fun.) Seems like some enforcement authorities (or reporting entities) use "TA" to describe even a "solo spinout" to the extent that it's part of the traffic pattern.

Akavall · Answer

If a car hits a pedestrian, wouldn't it be a "traffic accident" also?

Hoa Thai · Answer

Yoong Liat
Grammar GeekYes, other vehicles. But you can have a one-car accident. You can't have a one-car traffic accident.
I agree with you. When cars or other vehicles are involved, the term is 'traffic accident'.

Hi Grammar Geek and Yoong Liat,

Just for clarification and confirmation, I would like to set a scene and ask a few questions.

A drunk driver ran a red light and hit a pedestrian crossing a busy street. Both parties were involved in a car accident (based on one-car explanation). Or should we say they were involved in a traffic accident as they were in traffic? Or should we attibute the car accident to the pedestrian and the traffic one to the driver?

Now, let's say indirectly that accident also caused multiple-car pile-up behind them. What type of accident were the drunk driver and the pedestrian involved in? Would the type of accident be classified differently whether the other cars hit the drunkard's or not?

Thanks,
Hoa Thai

Yoong Liat · Answer

Hi Hoa Thai

Just for clarification and confirmation, I would like to set a scene and ask a few questions.

A drunk driver ran a red light and hit a pedestrian crossing a busy street. Both parties were involved in a car accident (based on one-car explanation). Or should we say they were involved in a traffic accident as they were in traffic? Or should we attibute the car accident to the pedestrian and the traffic one to the driver? (I'd say it is a car/road/traffic accident.)

Now, let's say indirectly that accident also caused multiple-car pile-up behind them. What type of accident were the drunk driver and the pedestrian involved in? Would the type of accident be classified differently whether the other cars hit the drunkard's or not? (I'd also say that it is a car/road/traffic accident.)

I'd say that a car accident can involve one or more than one car.

car/traffic accident

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