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Vehicle accidents often result in severe injuries and extensive property damage for those involved. In most situations, crashes are caused by the careless or negligent actions of one or more drivers. However, there are times when vehicle accidents are caused by a driver experiencing a medical emergency. Here, we want to discuss what happens if you have been involved in a vehicle accident caused by a medical condition.
Most people think of vehicle accidents as being caused by driver carelessness or negligence. For example, no one would blink an eye at hearing that an accident was caused by a driver impaired by alcohol or drugs. However, there are times when accidents can be caused by drivers suffering from a pre-existing medical condition. There are various types of conditions that could make it unsafe for a person to operate a vehicle on the roadways of Scottsdale. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Some states place limitations on drivers who have pre-existing illnesses that could negatively impact their driving. However, it is also not uncommon for drivers to be unaware that they have a medical condition that could lead to a serious accident.
It is often not difficult to determine the cause of the crash caused by a driver’s negligence. However, determining liability for an accident caused by a medical condition such as a heart attack or a drop in blood sugar can be more challenging.
These incidents will need to be handled on a case-by-case basis. For example, it will need to be determined if an incident involved intentional negligence as well as how much a person’s condition contributed to the crash.
If a person has uncontrolled diabetes and is aware of their condition yet chooses to operate a vehicle, knowing that their blood sugar could drop and leave them in an impaired state, this could be construed as intentional negligence. The driver with the medical condition could be held liable for the incident.
Determining fault for a crash caused by a pre-existing medical condition may require testimony from expert medical witnesses, including cardiologists, internists, neurologists, or other medical specialists. It will need to be determined whether or not a driver was aware of their condition in the first place. If they were, the driver could be held partially or completely at fault for a crash.
Additionally, it will need to be determined how much a driver’s medical condition contributed to the incident. It could be the case that the pre-existing health defect had nothing to do with the crash. For example, a person with low blood sugar may be involved in an accident caused by the actions of another driver. If the low blood sugar did not contribute to the incident in any way, it would not make sense to hold that driver responsible.
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident caused by a driver with a pre-existing medical condition, you should seek assistance from a skilled Scottsdale personal injury lawyer immediately. An attorney will be able to conduct a complete investigation into your case and help you recover the compensation you are entitled to.