Accidental

Rebuilding a Life After Taking One

By: David W. Peters

Narrated by: Adam Verner

Accidental injury is the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of forty-five. From fatal traffic accidents to firearms injuries to casualties of war to a deadly virus passed to an elderly loved one, accidental harm dates back almost as far as our human stories go. When these accidents occur, they pose profound and agonizing questions: What do we do when a death falls somewhere between a murder and an insurance claim? What if we are responsible for such harm? Is healing even possible?

Rooted in research on moral injury, religious rituals of confession and cleansing, and psychology—as well as the hard-won wisdom of someone who has been there—Accidental explores the complicated reality of accidental death and injury and offers companionship to those affected by these tragedies. Author, military veteran, and Episcopal priest David W. Peters walks with us through his own lonely journey after he unintentionally killed someone in a traffic accident and the journey of his family, as his brother was killed by a bus. Peters investigates the cars, guns, and systems that put some people and communities at more risk than others, and then draws wisdom from ancient cities of refuge, where accidental killers could find asylum. Accidental helps listeners accept responsibility, see themselves in the stories of others, and find absolution and community.

©2023 David W. Peters (P)2023 eChristian

Accidentall

I found this book to be comforting because it made me see others too. Before finding this website I felt I was the only one to exp

Helpful in so many ways

As a CADI or accidental killer myself, I felt some resistance to author David Peters approach to telling his story of his accident killing, family history of trauma and the effects he felt of his trauma after returning from the war in Iraq. It's possible that listening to his accounts triggered some of my own unresolved feelings around my accident, and likely that my struggles with my own spirituality or lack thereof in response to awareness of my own trauma caused me to bristle at the mere mention of God. Having been very isolated with my experience of guilt and shame for more than twenty years it's still surprising to me how others have the ability to write and talk about events like these so publicity and with such candor. I had to put the book down, so to speak, for a day after the first few chapters and come back to it. And I'm quite glad that I did. The range of topics covered, types of accidental deaths and the range of experiences as well as commonalities among those who have caused accidental deaths is going to be immensely helpful to me as I continue on my own path of healing and recovery. There are plenty of resources, spiritual, religious, and not at all. I believe this could be helpful to the family friends or caregiviers if those who've caused an accidental death and if accidentally killing another is part of your life experience I hope that you might find an open mind and open heart if you feel resistance to what you will find here because there's loads of wisdom and guidance in this book.