Final answer:
An agency of accident refers to the factors that contribute to the occurrence of accidents leading to injuries. It encompasses human behavior, chance, and environmental factors. Insurers and employers acknowledge this through imperfect information and Workman's compensation insurance, which offers benefits to injured workers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of an agency of accident pertains to the various factors contributing to an incident that leads to injury, often discussed in the context of health, insurance, and workplace safety. This term acknowledges that accidents are often the result of a chain of events influenced by human behavior, environmental factors, and chance. For instance, in the workplace, an employee may not recognize the severity of an action that doesn't immediately result in an injury, reflecting a denial of injury. However, such actions can still be significant as they set precedents for unsafe practices that may lead to injury in the future.
Furthermore, ethical considerations come into play when discussing accidents. For example, the moral philosopher William David Ross suggests that witnessing a car accident may impose an ethical duty to assist, which supersedes other obligations such as being on time for an appointment.
Insurance companies must grapple with imperfect information when assessing risk and providing coverage for potential accidents. Since it's impossible to predict future accidents with certainty, insurance works on principles that recognize the variability in individual behavior and chance occurrences. This unpredictability is a core aspect of the concept of an agency of accident, as it acknowledges that individual characteristics, choices, and luck all play roles in whether an injury occurs.
In the realm of employment, Workman's compensation insurance is an application of acknowledging the agency of accident, where employers contribute to a fund designed to offer benefits to workers who suffer an injury on the job, recognizing that workplace accidents are a possibility regardless of precautionary measures.