Breakdown or Accident ?

The other evening I was out with a friend in his car. We pulled onto the side of the road to check a map. Unfortunately the grass verge was misleading and we grounded on a large stone which unknown to us caused a hole in the sump of the car. Having checked the map we drove off, only to find out that the oil pressure light came on and our car stopped. Looking under the car we could see the problem.

Being a member for around twenty years,and always had excellent service, I phoned the RAC for help, only to be told by the operator that this was not a breakdown but was classed as an accident.

I have a few questions/points to raise.

1. who decides if its an accident or breakdown ?
2. what if I had played "dumb" and said the car has just stopped, " I don't know whats happened"
3. supposing we had hit a pothole in the road, broken a track end, and the vehicle had become undriveable. Again I could say to the operator the steering doesnt work, I dont know why. Am I covered or not.

I am a retired firefighter and so I know what I term as an accident, or in modern terms "collision" - because we don't have "accidents" any more ! I know that the police no longer have Road Traffic Accidents, because as they say there is no such thing as an accident, someone is always to blame. Therefore they are now termed Road Traffic Collisions or Incidents.

Perhaps a definition clause in the membership terms as to what an "accident" is ?

Mick the Fire