Dozy
You are so data and scientific-proof based, you should also be as pedantic as to what you state, read or interpret.
If i said there was an "unexpected rise" in accidents with one design, that does not preclude that other accidents with older designs did not happen!
The professional thing is to go and discuss why such a rise.
The puerile thing is to brush such questions aside by stating "... bah, the others did the same, so nothing can be wrong here."