While an accident might seem at its most basic definition to being located in the wrong place at the wrong time, sometimes car accidents can be caused by a medical condition that affected the quality of driving.

This becomes extremely important in the question of negligence and car accidents. A car accident can occur for many different reasons. If someone’s judgment is affected and they take their eyes off the road even briefly, this could make them much more likely to be involved in a serious vehicle accident.

Some of the most common medical conditions that could jeopardize a person’s ability to pay attention or control the vehicle include heart attacks, seizures, strokes and impaired vision. Other conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease can increase a person’s risk of being involved in an accident.

  • A stroke involves a rapid loss of brain function associated with an interruption to the brain’s blood flow. The brain is unable to function during this time period and one or both limbs on one side of the body can be affected.
  • Heart attacks can occur anytime that blood stops flowing as it should typically flow.
  • A seizure can lead to a lapse in consciousness, thereby taking a driver’s eyes off the road and causing a serious accident.
  • Impaired vision can make it difficult for a driver to see what is immediately in front of them thus raising the stakes and making it more likely that they will swerve or fail to see another vehicle or obstacle in front of them.
  • Other conditions that can cause vehicle accidents involve any medical problem that takes away a person’s faculties for driving a vehicle. These can include Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

If a driver forgets the rules of the road, their ultimate destination or the right side of the road to drive on, the results could be deadly. No one can foresee an auto accident caused by a medical condition and it presents a legal gray area as far as who is responsible. Consulting with a knowledgeable San Diego car accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident has occurred is strongly recommended.