Unavoidable-Accident Doctrine Law and Legal Definition
Unavoidable accident doctrine is a principle of torts law which says that a person cannot be held liable for an accident that cannot be foreseen or anticipated in the exercise of ordinary care. The "unavoidable accident" doctrine, is not applied by the courts now.
The principle of law invoking the doctrine of "unavoidable accident" is applicable only when under some theory of the case the injury does not result from negligence of either of the parties. The casualty must be produced by some unavoidable cause. Where the pleadings and evidence authorize a finding that the injury was the result of negligence, it is error to charge the jury upon the doctrine of "unavoidable accident". [Sirmons v. Pittman, 138 So. 2d 765, 771 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1st Dist. 1962)]
