This statement is in response to the viewpoint by Lauren Armstrong in the The Maui News on Aug. 11 titled “Why we should avoid using the word ‘accident’ for traffic collisions.”

We do not use the word, “accident,” in our personal injury cases in our office because there is no such thing. They happen because people do not pay attention. People do not run red lights without fault. People do not rear-end other vehicles without fault. Such events are not accidents, that is, happenings taking place without fault.

Rather, dangerous things which happen are caused by careless, intentional, or negligent conduct of people inflicting harm or death to a fellow human being. They do not happen when people exercise caution or act without fault.

One should not be excused for harming or killing another saying what was done was an “accident” — the cop who kneed George Floyd in the neck to death was not acting accidentally — he acted with fault.

So, treat fault for what it is, and do not cover the bleeding with a Band-Aid word of “accident.”

James Krueger

Wailuku