According to new research out of Denmark, individuals who have a history of blackouts or fainting spells are more likely to get involved in car accidents than a typical driver. In the research study, the focus was on individuals who experience syncope, which refers to sudden consciousness loss outside of typical head injuries. Individuals who suffered from this condition had twice the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident when compared with the general population.

Although in absolute terms the risk was relatively small, it still raises important questions about policies regarding driving. Individuals who develop medical conditions that could impact their driving ability may be involved in serious accidents and cause injuries to others. According to previous research about this condition, about one in three individuals will develop and experience syncope at least once in their life.

In one-third of patients who have at least one episode will have another episode within ten years. If you have been involved in an accident because someone else was not paying attention or otherwise afflicted by a medical condition behind the wheel of a car, you need to be carefully evaluated by a medical professional.