What exactly is 'accidental damage' for Apple's one year Warranty?

Here is the Beats warranty:

Apple One (1) Year Limited Warranty – Accessory - For Apple and Beats Branded Products Only.

Quite specific as to what is not covered:

This warranty excludes normal depletion of consumable parts such as batteries unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship and, damage resulting from abuse, accident, modifications, unauthorized repairs or other causes that are not defects in materials and workmanship.

Generally any outward signs of damage or breakage would be classified as accidental damage.

If no visible signs of breakage exist on the headphones, cable or anything else on their exterior, it would likely be fair game for manufacturing defect. However the final say will be from the Genius that evaluates them.

The only way you are going to find out is to make an appointment for Apple to examine it.

All you are going to get here are guesses.