Those individuals who have been diagnosed with epilepsy may have a higher rate of being hurt in vehicle accidents, including as pedestrians and as cyclists. A recent study identified that the rates of cycling and walking accidents are higher than for car accidents for those people who have been diagnosed with epilepsy. The study was carried out in Sweden and identified that epilepsy was connected to a 2.2 times increased risk for pedestrian accidents and a 1.4-fold higher risk for overall transportation accidents.

The study was recently published in Neurology Journal. Transportation is crucial for being involved in the community for epilepsy patients, but many may not realize that they are at a higher risk of being seriously hurt in an accident. More than 29,000 individuals, aged 18 or above with epilepsy, were reviewed in Sweden’s National Patient Register. They excluded people with intellectual disabilities or cerebral palsy. The individuals were followed from 2006 to 2013 to look at their risks of serious transportation accidents. Anyone with a medical condition already may be critically hurt and have significant medical expenses associated with recovery from an accident caused by another person.

If an accident does involve a pedestrian who already has substantial medical conditions, then it will be important to review the medical history to figure out how the accident made those worse. Clear documentation can help to ensure a fight for full compensation in court.