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According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) 2010 study (latest available), approximately 20,000 drivers annually are involved in motor vehicle crashes as a result of medical emergencies, either due to heart attack, stroke or most commonly a seizure.

• Heart attack usually occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood through a blood vessel that feeds blood into the heart. (Mayo Clinic)
• A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. (Stroke.org)
• A seizure is a temporary disturbance in brain function in which groups of nerve cells in the brain signal abnormally and excessively. Seizures may produce changes in awareness or sensation, involuntary movements, or other changes in behavior. Usually, a seizure lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. If a person has had more than one seizure they may be diagnosed with epilepsy. (Nurology.org)

Drivers may obtain a driver's license in most states if there is documentation that a specific amount of time has passed without a seizure.  The seizure-free period ranges from a few months to over a year. In Florida, drivers who are seizure-free 2 years, or 6 months if they are under a doctor’s supervision, may be licensed to drive if a physician feels it is safe.

All drivers of a motor vehicles have the duty to exercise reasonable care, and this duty includes keeping the vehicle under control at all times.   

There are many aspects to these types of accidents.  Some of the considerations may be:

• Whether the driver suffered a loss of consciousness or sudden physical event that caused the loss of control of the vehicle.
• Whether the driver had a history of heart conditions or seizures.
• Whether the loss of consciousness was foreseeable.

"If you or a loved one has suffered injury as the result of a driver with a medical emergency, it is important to contact an experienced, skilled attorney," says Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney,  Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.