'As a result' and 'As the result' #2

Hello everybody.

I posted this topic at the temporary forum, but, since I still haven't got an answer, I repeat it here (without the replies).

Many times I have met theese phrases: 'As a result' and 'As the result'. But I never could understand how to determine which one should be used in every certain context. Could anybody explain it please?

Since any event may have more than one result (though the speaker may be aware of only one), I think that the indefinite article should be used in all cases.

It seems that I'm not right, but what is my mistake?

Thanks in advance,
Anton

It may be a regional/dialect difference. I always say "as a result" and I don't think that I have ever heard "as the result". If I knew there was only one result I would probably say "the result is", or something similar. I'm a native English speaker from North America (also spent some time among a few British speakers, and I don't remember them using it either).

Thank you very much.