When Medical Conditions Cause Car Accidents
There could be a number of reasons behind a car accident, e.g. drunk driving, speeding, distracted driving, tailgating, etc. One less frequent reason is the medical condition of the driver. Medical conditions can impair a driver’s ability to drive safely, hence, resulting in an accident. Such cases may look easy to evaluate, but a car accident due to a certain health condition of the driver is quite challenging to assess for courts and car accident attorneys.
Common Medical Conditions That May Cause a Car Accident
Any disorder or condition that inhibits the attention, knowledge, judgement, or coordination of the driver is dangerous and may result in car accidents. Some of the common medical conditions that may lead to a car accident include the following:
Diabetes
Complications from diabetes mellitus can compromise the ability of a driver to safely drive a car. In severe cases, the diabetic may suddenly pass out because of a sudden drop in blood sugar.
Impaired Vision
Impaired vision of a driver significantly increases the risk of causing a road accident. For instance, if the driver wears corrective contact lenses or glasses and forgets to wear them, their negligence can put them, other drivers, and pedestrians at risk.
Heart Attack
While there are medications that prevent heart attacks, this condition becomes more dangerous when it occurs when an individual is driving a vehicle. Individuals with a risk of heart attack or who have a heart condition should avoid driving altogether unless cleared to do so by their healthcare provider.
Seizures
A seizure is an uncontrolled, sudden electrical disturbance in the brain that occurs due to a misfire of certain nerve cells. This takes away the ability required to safely drive. Common symptoms include anxiety, temporary confusion, uncontrollable jerking, and loss of consciousness.
Determining Liability in Medical Emergency Crash
It is difficult to determine liability in a medical emergency car accident. This is because some medical issues are unpredictable and each medical case is different from another. That said, if the medical condition was pre-existing and the driver stayed negligent by refusing to treat it or by disregarding certain restrictions recommended for their condition, they put others at risk, hence, they will be held responsible for the accident.
To determine liability, car accident attorneys and judges will:
- Examine testimony from expert neurologists, cardiologists, and other medical professionals to determine whether or not the driver knew about their medical condition.
- Evaluate how much the medical condition of the driver was the reason behind the accident.
- Evaluate whether the driver was intentionally negligent by refusing to treat themselves if they were aware of their specific condition.
In some cases, misdiagnosis and malpractice can also lead to temporary medical problems. If that’s the case, your personal injury lawyer can counsel you in that regard.
Seek Help for Your Car Accident Case
It’s very difficult to determine liability in a car accident case when the driver has a medical condition. Learning about the primary cause as well as the extent to which it contributed to the accident can help an attorney handle the case effectively.
Hilton & Somer, LLC: Car Accident Attorneys located in Fairfax and licensed to practice in Virginia, Maryland and in the District of Columbia
If you, or a loved one, has suffered the consequences of a car accident and the driver responsible is claiming a medical problem that led to the accident, it is recommended that you hire an experienced car accident attorney. Contact the Car Accident attorneys at Hilton & Somer, LLC today. Call us toll-free at 703-560-0700 to arrange a free consultation to discuss your case.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6047179/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217381/
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