In the early morning hours of August 1, 2011, a car-hauling tractor trailer was traveling south on Highway I-15 near Serra Mesa. Suddenly, the big rig began to weave and swerve. Veering across all lanes, the truck drove over an embankment and landed on Murphy Canyon Road.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the trucker was found unconscious, but did not appear to have visible signs of injuries. However, the CHP later learned that the man died from his injuries a short time after arriving at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Two other cars were involved in the collision. Neither of those drivers were harmed. Ultimately, authorities learned the cause of the accident was not distraction or impairment-but a heart attack.
Sudden emergency or illness cases have been more prevalent in the news after the death of WWE celebrity Randy "Macho Man" Savage earlier this year. Savage died due to injuries sustained in a car accident that was precipitated by a sudden heart attack.
Many truck accidents can be attributed to other issues such as impaired or distracted driving. Following decades-old research by some international researchers, it was found that 1 in every thousand accidents may be linked to sudden emergency or illness.
Sudden emergency or illness-related vehicle collisions can be problematic for accident victims. In personal injury cases, fault and liability falls on drivers who are negligent in handling or controlling their vehicles. To find an operator negligent, there must exist knowledge of and disregard of the risks that an adverse medical event can cause. In most cases, medical conditions such as heart attacks are beyond a person's control.
In some cases, obtaining fair compensation for injuries depends on whether sudden illness drivers ignored medical advice, did not comply with medical recommendations for treatment, and/or disregarded prior warning signs that they should not drive. Evidence of this nature can help overcome the presumption that sudden illness should bar a driver from liability.
For passengers and others who share the road, caution is the key to safety. And, for those injured in sudden illness-related accidents, consulting an experienced attorney may be the first step in protecting themselves and their rights.
