He hurt/injured himself in a traffic accident

[joham]

We say 'He was hurt/was injured in a traffic accident', but can we say 'He hurt/injured himself in a traffic accident'?

As the thank and like buttons don't work, could I thank you here in advance?

 

[GoesStation]

Either construction is fine.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think he was a victim in the former and the culprit in the latter.

 

[joham]

Thank you so much for your help, GoesStation and thank you for your opinion, which arouses my curiosity. Does 'He was hurt/was injured in a traffic accident' mean exactly the same thing as 'He hurt/injured himself in a traffic accident' please? (I used to think they mean the same thing, but now I'm not sure.)

 

[Matthew Wai]

If he was a passenger just sitting there and got hurt/injured, I think he did not hurt/injure himself but was hurt/injured.

 

[Rover_KE]

To me, 'He hurt himself' implies at least some degree of culpability.

 

[joham]

Thank you all for your great help. I think I understand this problem much better now.