What if My Medical Condition Caused the Car Accident?
Many types of long-term medical conditions can happen unexpectedly while driving. Some of these medical conditions may be new or the person may have had a history of the medical condition. Heart attacks, strokes, epileptic seizures, and narcolepsy are some examples. Certain conditions can be managed with medications while others like strokes can happen at any time. If you were in a car accident because of your medical condition, ask a Central New York Car Accidents Lawyer about the medical emergency defense to see if you qualify.
What Medical Conditions Cause Car Accidents?
About 49,868 car accidents happened between 2005 and 2007 because of medical emergencies while driving. It is estimated that around 20,000 car accidents happen a year because of these types of emergency medical conditions. Strokes, heart attacks, intense seizures, diabetic reactions, and blackouts are some of the most common medical conditions involved with these accidents.
Heart attacks can make a person freeze up and lose control of the steering wheel. Many people who have heart attacks pass out, often regardless of whether they receive immediate medical attention. Strokes can have similar effects depending on how severe they are and what brain damage they inflict. Certain strokes 
may cause someone to lose control of half their body, which can make driving dangerous.
Seizures involve involuntary rapid movements and muscle tremors throughout the whole body. People who have seizures tend to completely lose control of their muscles and body movements. Some seizures can even be deadly. Diabetic reactions can make a person pass out and slip into a diabetic coma. This can make their foot press all the way on the accelerator.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that makes people fall asleep for around 40 seconds to 2 minutes. People with this disorder cannot simply wake themselves up, but often have to take prescription stimulants to remain awake throughout the day.
Using the Medical Emergency Defense
The medical emergency defense can be used in situations where your medical condition caused a car accident. This prevents the blame from being fully placed on you because the assumption is that you had no control over your medical condition.
Working with a lawyer to use the medical emergency defense means you may not have to pay for damages caused to the other driver or other people’s property. This can save you a lot of money on top of the financial damages you may have suffered like injuries and vehicle repair costs.
Car Accidents Lawyer in New York
The aftermath of an unexpected car accident can be expensive, especially if you end up being considered partially at fault for the accident. However, you do not have to let the blame be pushed on you if you have a diagnosable medical condition that caused the accident. Consider hiring a Syracuse Personal Injury Lawyer if you suffered injuries from the car accident.
At Gattuso & Ciotoli, we possess over 50 years of personal injury experience. Contact us today at (315) 314-8000 for a free consultation. You can find us in Central New York, Syracuse, Watertown, Binghamton, Syracuse, North Syracuse, Camillus, Liverpool, Cortland, and Auburn. We will work with you to investigate your claim and defend your rights.