Driver inattention, speeding and drunk driving are all likely to cause serious car accidents, but what happens when a medical condition or sudden emergency is the cause of a wreck? While some states may restrict driver’s licenses for those with medical issues, these incidents might still occur without warning. There are several common medical problems that may affect your driving ability, and knowing how they might affect you could help you prevent a serious accident.
- Type 2 Diabetes
While most instances of Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with medication, a nutritious low-sugar diet and proper exercise, a sudden drop in blood sugar could cause you to feel faint, dizzy or disoriented. Even a moment’s inattention due to these problems could cause you to rear-end the driver in front of you or drift from your lane and into another car. Controlling and checking your blood sugar before you get behind the wheel could help you avoid an accident.
- Limited Eyesight
If you wear corrective lenses or contacts, driving without them in place could increase the odds of you causing an accident. This can be especially dangerous if you cannot read road signs that announce construction areas or other areas where road conditions may change. If your license lists your need for corrective lenses, you may be fined if you are found driving without them.
- Heart Disease
Some types of heart disease can be controlled with medication, but sudden problems may occur without warning while you are behind the wheel, such as a heart attack or sudden arrhythmia. These events could lead to severe pain and even loss of consciousness, which may lead to a serious car accident. You may want to drive with a companion if you have heart trouble or limit your driving time by taking cabs or public transportation instead.
- Seizure Disorders
Because seizures can be difficult to predict when you have epilepsy or a history of seizures, you may want to consult your physician before you decide to drive. Suffering a seizure while driving could pose a serious risk of injury to you, your passengers and those who share the road with you. Even if your disorder is under control, predicting when a seizure may happen can be almost impossible, so you may want to take extreme caution if you decide to get behind the wheel.
Certain medical conditions could hamper your ability to drive and may even cause an accident, but you do not have to face the consequences alone. Contact Patterson Bray for further information and assistance about a car accident case.
