What Medical Conditions Can Lead To Auto Accidents?

Auto accidents are, in the most basic definition, simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But what do you do if the car accident was caused by a medical condition that affected the quality of driving? If the cause of the accident was due to a medical condition of the other driver, then that is a situation for them to explore in more depth on their end. Whether or not your medical condition caused a car accident, the situation stands and the question becomes “How is this handled?” Another question is “Who is to blame?” The answers lie within the analysis of the situation in the eyes of the law. A question based on foresight, however, is “What medical conditions can lead to auto accidents?”

The answer to this question is vast, for a car accident can occur for any number of reasons. The second attention or judgment is taken off of the road; the driver is much more vulnerable to being hit and much more likely to cause a crash. This could injure the driver or anyone involved, and can possibly be fatal. Any disorder or condition that inhibits the driver’s strength, coordination, agility, mental capacities, judgment, attention, knowledge, or skill is the disorder or condition that can cause auto accidents. Some of the examples described in the following sections are seizures, strokes, heart attacks, impaired vision, or other conditions that include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. Anything that inhibits any ability to drive creates a risk not only to the driver, but to those sharing a road with them as well. Understanding more about these medical conditions can provide information and examples of how they affect auto accidents and ultimately how they affect you. Auto accidents caused by medical conditions cannot be prevented in the moment before they occur; rather, it is up to the driver to drive with every faculty as healthy as possible.

1.) Seizures

Seizures cause lapses in consciousness, taking away the faculties needed to drive. Some seizure medications can cause drowsiness, which also pose a risk to the driver. There are many different types of seizures, classified by the causes, outcomes, or treatments. In the state of Florida, while an individual can drive if they take medication or treatment that controls the seizures, there are regulations. Drivers who are free of seizures for six months may be licensed with the permission of their physician. A physician’s certificate is not needed if the individual is seizure-free for over two years.

2.) Strokes

A stroke is a rapid loss of brain function due to an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain. The brain cannot function, and oftentimes the body is unable to move one or both limbs on one side of the body. This could also lead to the inability to see through one eye. This inhibits the ability to drive due to impaired vision or movement. If you feel you are at risk of a stroke or have had one in the past, consult your doctor or therapist, and have your driving tested before returning to the road.

3.) Heart Attacks

Heart attacks, also known as myocardial infarctions, occur when blood stops flowing as it should and the heart becomes injured. While treatment or medications such as aspirin are available, they become a terror when they occur behind the wheel. If you feel you are at risk for a heart attack or have had one in your past, consult your medical professional about your specific situation and any directions in regards to driving. When heart attacks occur, they can be sudden and painful, and temporarily crippling, leaving the affected individual unable to drive and at risk to cause an accident.

4.) Impaired Vision

Impaired vision can cause accidents due to the fact that if the driver cannot see what is in front of them, they increase the risk of causing an accident. Most states now require an eye examination to review the driver’s license. Through this, the law can verify that the driver can see the road well enough to drive, even with the assistance of contact lenses or glasses. In the state of Florida, licenses will state that corrective lenses are required to drive; if a driver is caught driving without corrective lenses, they may be cited for a second-degree misdemeanor with sixty days in jail and a five-hundred dollar fine. This ensures that most drivers in the state of Florida can actually see the road they are driving on. If a driver drives without their corrective lenses and causes an accident, they will be found at fault due to the negligence involved in not wearing the corrective lenses.

5.) Other Conditions

Other conditions that can cause auto accidents involve any that take away the faculties necessary for driving a vehicle. If proper precautions are not taken, not only could you be found at fault, but the results could turn fatal for you or those around you. These other conditions can include conditions that progress with age, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Dementia. If a driver forgets their destination, the rules of the road, or the correct side on which to drive, the results could be disastrous. Keep an eye on your own driving and faculties as well as those of your loved ones to ensure optimum health and driving capabilities.

Auto accidents caused by a medical condition cannot be foreseen. Unless the symptoms occur on a regulated time frame or the affected individual knows about their condition and is aware that it may happen, then the auto accident is simply an accident. No one can see the future or predict how their health will be behind the wheel.

But when car accidents due to medical conditions do happen, who is the party at fault? The simplest answer lies with the driver afflicted with the medical condition. If the driver knew or should have known about the medical condition before the time of the accident, then the said driver will be the one considered to be at fault. This is due to the fact that the individual was negligent in taking the necessary precautions to prevent an accident due to their own medical condition. It is possible to find out the individual’s knowledge of their condition through medical paperwork. Does their medical record state they were treated for or diagnose with their condition prior to the occurrence of the accident? If so, then the individual had known about their condition prior to the accident and is thus considered the one at fault. If their condition causes them to forget about their condition, then they are still considered to be at fault for they should take the necessary responsibilities to accommodate their condition to their lifestyle. This not only makes the road a safer place to drive, but it keeps them alive as well.

If you have been injured due to a car accident involving a medical condition, please do not hesitate to call a personal injury attorney for a consultation. The roads should be a safe place for everyone to drive. If you do not have a medical condition, do your best to drive defensively while being aware of the driving environment around you. If you do have a medical condition that may impair your driving, consult your doctor to see if your condition is compatible with driving. By understanding the medical conditions that impair driving, you will be able to do your part in keeping the road safe.