When you are an experienced driver, you may sometimes take for granted your ability to operate a vehicle because it just becomes second nature. But driving a vehicle requires both mental sharpness and physical agility. It is important for a driver’s brain to be able to manage multiple tasks at once and for their body to be able to physically move in order to be able to check blind spots and react quickly to the unexpected that might occur.
This is why it is so important for drivers to make sure they take care of themselves both physically and mentally. There are some medical conditions that can raise a driver’s risk of being involved in a crash. The following is a brief overview of some of these conditions. If you have been injured in a crash caused by another driver, contact a Virginia Beach personal injury attorney at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp for more detailed information.
Health Issues and Vehicle Crashes
The following are some of the more common medical issues suffered by at-fault drivers in some of the car accident cases our law firm has handled:
- Sleep disorders – A driver who suffers from insomnia, sleep apnea, or other condition that interferes with sleep may have poor judgment and slower response time that poor sleep can cause. Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.
- Vision issues – When a driver is issued a license, part of the process involves passing a vision test. If they need glasses for driving, this will be indicated on their license. But a person may not realize their vision issues are worsening. This is why it is essential to have an eye exam on an annual basis. Not being able to see the road clearly is a dangerous state to drive in and can lead to terrible car accidents.
- Cognitive issues – It is a fact of life that as we age, not only do we slow down physically, but our cognitive abilities may also be affected. There may be issues with decision-making, logical thinking, and memory, or the driver may have developed a disorder such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. These issues all affect our ability to operate a vehicle safely.
- Heart disease – Unfortunately, it is estimated that more than 800,000 people have heart attacks each year. When a driver suffers a cardiac incident, this can cause chain reactions and multi-vehicle crashes.
- Common Cold and Flus – Even drivers who have a bad cold can be in a state where they just are not focused on the road. They may feel groggy, achy, running a fever, and unfocused on what is going on around them. These dangerous situations can be compounded if they took cold medication that may make them drowsy.
At-Fault Driver
Every driver has a duty of care to those they share the roads with. Drivers are supposed to take the necessary steps to safely operate their vehicles. This also includes staying healthy and not getting behind the wheel if they are suffering from a health condition that leaves them less than 100 percent attentive to the roads. While there are some medical issues that can be sudden and emergency situations, there are those conditions that a driver knows or should have known that can be dangerous and take the steps to prevent an accident. These failures can result in that driver being held legally liable for the losses that any victims suffer because of the crash.
Contact a Virginia Injury Lawyer
Car crash victims often suffer from injuries that require a long-term recovery process. This often involves high medical expenses, as well as lost wages from work, and pain and suffering. And it is not uncommon for victims to suffer life-long damage from these injuries.
Insurance companies will often try to pressure car crash victims to settle their claims quickly and for much less than what the victim deserves. That is why it is critical to contact a skilled Virginia Beach car accident attorney immediately following a collision for advice and direction. Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today to schedule a free and confidential consultation. For more information, download our free guide to car crash injuries in Virginia.
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For over twenty years, Mr. Sharp's law practice has focused on serious personal injury claims, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury claims. He also handles nursing home neglect cases and medical malpractice claims. Mr. Sharp has counseled numerous clients about the complexities concerning litigation of both pediatric and adult brain injury. Mr. Sharp has been awarded the AV Preeminent ranking by Martindale, the highly respected and widely utilized directory of lawyers throughout the world. AV Preeminent status is awarded only to those lawyers who achieve the highest level of success within the legal field and is a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers and Judges rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. He has also been recognized as a "Best Lawyer" by U.S. News for personal injury, an accolade awarded to only a small fraction of lawyers. Mr. Sharp has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the top personal injury lawyers in Virginia. This recognition is awarded only to those lawyers who have achieved the highest level of success and have been recognized by their peers as demonstrating the highest level of professional excellence.
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