Posted on Monday, February 26th, 2018 at 5:07 pm
According to a story in The Antioch Herald, Antioch Police Officers responded to a car accident at the intersection of Davison Drive and Hillcrest Avenue last week. When officers arrived, the driver of one of the vehicles appeared to have a medical emergency. ConFire and paramedics performed life-saving measures after arriving at the accident scene. However, the man was later pronounced dead at the accident scene.
A passenger in the vehicle said that the driver complained of feeling ill and then slumped over. The passenger attempted to apply the brakes to avoid a crash. However, the driver’s foot hit the accelerator causing the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. Alcohol nor drugs were a factor in the traffic accident.
Traffic Accidents Caused by Medical Emergencies
Driver error, road conditions, defective parts, and weather conditions cause many accidents. However, there are cases like the one above where an accident is the result of a medical emergency. When the driver who causes the crash was experiencing a medical emergency, is he still liable for the damages caused by the accident?
Proving Liability for the Accident
In most cases, the driver would be liable for the damages even if the crash was caused because the driver became ill or experienced a medical emergency. Liability insurance covers accidents that the driver causes, even if the driver did not intend to cause the accident. In the case of a medical emergency, the driver did not intend to cause the accident, but he did. Therefore, his liability insurance should pay for the damages caused by the crash.
However, the insurance company may try to fight the accident claim as it does with so many other claims. You might need to provide convincing evidence proving that the driver caused the collision. In a complex, multi-vehicle accident, determining liability can be difficult. The insurance company understands this fact and will try to use it against you when negotiating a settlement.
Before you speak with an insurance adjuster or you sign any documents for the insurance company, consult with an experienced Antioch car accident attorney. The insurance company may be looking for information it can use to blame you for the crash. If the company can blame you for the collision, it can decrease the amount of money it pays for your accident claim.
Call an Antioch Car Accident Attorney Now
For a free consultation and no-obligation case evaluation with an Antioch personal injury attorney, call The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or visit our website. Our law firm represents clients throughout the Bay Area.
Our attorneys have experience handling a variety of car accident claims. We have the resources, experience, and knowledge that you want when you are going up against a large insurance company.
Source: “Berkeley man dies while driving in Antioch, causes three-car collision Friday morning.” Acting Lieutenant Rick Martin #3343, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau. The Antioch Herald. 16 February 2018.
