October 27, 2012—Ventura, California—A California Highway Patrol officer was injured in a crash with another vehicle on Highway 101 near Ventura on Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Times. The accident occurred when the officer was stopped along the shoulder of the road headed south to wait for a car that had been reported for reckless driving.
The vehicle driven by the suspect was making erratic lane changes and fluctuating from very slow to very fast speeds while traveling from Santa Barbara. The vehicle had reportedly already had two hit-and-run crashes when it crashed into the patrol car. Following this collision, two more vehicles collided and the middle and right lanes of the freeway were blocked.
The driver of the suspect vehicle was initially thought to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but investigation revealed that the man was suffering from a diabetic seizure. Although the suspect driver and the police officers suffered minor injuries, thankfully no one else was hurt in the crash.
My sincere wishes for a speedy recovery go out to the police officer and the victim in this accident.
Medical Conditions Responsible for Accidents
While it is not common for a driver to cause an accident because of a medical condition, this situation does arise from time to time and the results can be devastating. Most drivers pull over when they begin to feel sick, but as in this case, a driver slipping into a diabetic coma or a driver having a stroke or heart attack may not have enough warning to get out of traffic. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s report, “The Contribution of Medical Conditions to Passenger Vehicle Crashes,” only 1.3 percent of all crashes are precipitated by a medical emergency, and 62 percent of these crashes involve only the driver with the medical condition. However, as this story shows, there are cases in which the driver does hit other cars and may cause damage or injury.
Liability Issues for Medically-Impaired Drivers
Whether a driver can be charged with an accident or not, the liability issues surrounding the damages caused by a “sick” driver will hinge on the answer to a single question: should the driver have been aware that he or she was a danger to others?
In some cases, drivers have no real warning that they will suffer medical issues. For example, if a driver has a sudden stroke and loses consciousness, the driver can hardly be held accountable if he or she has an accident. However, in the case of a diabetic driver, the answer may hinge on the diabetic’s behavior prior to the crash. Refusal to take medication or deliberately ignoring dietary restrictions could, in this case, be considered negligence leading to the accident.
A California car accident attorney can help victims determine if negligence was a part of the accident if they are entitled to recover damages.
Ventura Crash Leaves CHP Officer Injured is a post from: Personal Injury Lawyers News