You may see a vehicle swerving across the lanes. It may slow down and speed up. You might get angry because the driver might be drunk or high. You may be concerned because the driver may be suffering a severe health condition. When you’re the other person on the road, why someone’s dangerous doesn’t matter. If you can’t get out of the way, you may be the one with a medical emergency.
Medical Issues May Have Caused Fatal Accidents
It was a very sad day in Lexington in early November because Deshanna Baker died after a vehicle accident. She worked as a nurse on the third shift and was driving home when her SUV hit a van at an intersection, reports WTVQ. Family friends say shortly before the accident, she was on the telephone with her son. Baker reportedly told him she wasn’t feeling well, and she might pass out. Baker left behind three children.
A man may have also suffered a medical emergency while driving his girlfriend home from work, causing a deadly, three-vehicle crash in Kenner, Louisiana, in October. His girlfriend was thrown from the car and killed when pinned in the wreckage, Nola.com reports. The driver was hospitalized in critical condition after the accident.
The driver’s relatives told investigators he suffers from “severe seizures” and recently sought treatment. Police state they think he seized while driving. Witnesses said his came car down a highway off-ramp, swerved left, and hit a cement pillar that shredded the car’s passenger side. The impact was so severe the girlfriend was thrown out of the car despite wearing seat belts. The car then hit two parked cars and started a fire.
The driver was found trapped in the car by the responding police officer. He cut his seat belt, and as the vehicle burned, he and nearby construction workers pulled him out. His girlfriend wasn’t found until the fire was extinguished.
Drivers With Medical Conditions Can Cause Accidents and Be Held Liable
Insurance claims and lawsuits involving injuries caused by vehicle accidents usually use negligence to prove the case. Part of the case is showing the person causing the accident owed the victim a duty to drive reasonably and not endanger their safety. You’re not driving reasonably if you know a medical condition could suddenly make you very ill or knock you unconscious.
In Baker’s case, we don’t know if she had any health conditions that she knew about. But if you’re feeling sick to the point you might pass out, you need to pull the car over as quickly as possible. You may not be in the safest area or have lots of room to do this, but you must try. Baker’s loss is a tragic blow to those who know her, but thankfully no one else was hurt.
We can’t say the same about the accident in Louisiana. According to the report, the driver knew he was having seizures. His doctor knew it too. If he didn’t warn his patient to stop driving, the doctor might be responsible for the accident too. Anyone suffering from seizures should not drive. In Kentucky, you must be seizure-free for 90 days before you can legally drive. It’s such a potential hazard Kentucky wants those breaking this rule reported so they can be kept off the road.
Take the Next Step
If you have any questions about compensation for accident injuries or need representation in a personal injury case, contact The Fleck Firm (270) 446-7000 today. Insurance companies have lawyers. You should have one too.
