noun
self-inflicted accident; one-car accident
Typically used in traffic contexts for an accident where the driver alone is at fault and no other vehicle is involved, such as hitting a guardrail or a tree. Can also refer to other self-caused accidents.
高速道路で自損事故を起こし、車が大破した。
He caused a one-car accident on the expressway and the car was wrecked.
自損事故でも保険が適用される場合
Even in a self-inflicted accident, insurance may apply in some cases.
単独事故 is a broader term for any single-vehicle accident, while 自損事故 emphasizes that the driver's own negligence caused the damage, often with no other party involved.
人身事故 refers to an accident involving injury or death, regardless of fault. 自損事故 may or may not involve injury, but focuses on self-caused damage.
Compound of 自損 (self-damage) and 事故 (accident).