Case Study – Medical Event Crash
Medical events are listed as the cause of 1-2% of vehicle crashes in the United States each year. What happens when a driver suffers a medical event and causes injuries to other people? Different states have different laws. Additionally, insurance coverage may depend on the circumstances and the coverage available. The following is a true account of an injured person we helped after another driver crashed into him while experiencing a medical event.
This story is a real case handled by the attorneys at Haggerty Silverman & Justice. The names and exact details of the situation have been changed to protect the identities of the parties involved. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Legal disclaimer.
Case Type: MVA – Car Accident
Location: Pennsylvania
Date of Crash: 2022
Injuries: Chest and hand injuries
Final Settlement: $20,000
Date of Final Settlement: 2024
Attorney: Randall M. Justice
Medical Event Causes Crash
In the summer of 2022, Marco was driving home from work near Centerville, PA. He was crossing a bridge when an oncoming driver swerved into his car, there was no time to react. The collision was hard enough to completely disable both vehicles and block the bridge. A witness stopped and called 911.
When emergency responders arrived, they found the at-fault driver had a medical event that caused (or greatly contributed to) the crash. Both drivers were injured and transported to the hospital via ambulance. Marco had injuries to his chest and hand.
Bills Start To Pile Up
While Marco could not avoid the crash, he was stuck with everything. He was unable to work for a while because of his injury. His SUV was damaged and needed repairs. He needed to figure out how to get to physical therapy and doctor appointments. On top of all that, he had to figure out how to keep paying his bills without his usual income.
Marco tried to navigate the claims process on his own at first. His own car insurance paid a lot of the medical bills through PIP coverage. He filed a claim with his insurance for collision coverage. But, he was off work for a while until he healed. His job paid him short-term disability while he recovered, but that did not cover 100% of his lost income. He also had a “waiting week” where he recieved no pay before the benefits kicked in. As a machine operator, every dollar counts. He couldn’t afford even a partial loss of income while he recovered. After a few months, Marco started searching for help. He called an attorney, and that attorney called us.
Marco Seeks Legal Help
Marco needed help. He knew the at-fault driver had a medical event, but he didn’t want to suffer serious financial loss for something that wasn’t his fault. Was it fair to seek compensation for his injuries and loss of income?
Randall met with Marco in a free consultation to discuss the details of Marco’s situation. It was clear that Marco was struggling. Randall agreed to help Marco get the money he needed.
How Pennsylvania Law Applies To Medical Event Crashes
In Pennsylvania, a driver is financially responsible for the personal injury they cause. Drivers in Pennsylvania are required to have car insurance. If a driver suffers a medical event and causes a crash, the driver is liable for the injuries they cause to other people.
Pennsylvania Driver Liability Coverage
In Marco’s situation, the other driver experienced low blood sugar and a possible diabetic event. This medical event may have caused the driver to lose control and steer into Marco’s vehicle, but it doesn’t exclude the financial responsibility of the crash. The fact remains, the other driver’s vehicle crashed into Marco while they were operating it. Through no fault of his own, Marco was suddenly injured and out of work while he recovered. In part, this is why every driver is required to have car insurance in Pennsylvania.
Drivers are required to carry liability insurance to help cover the costs of physical injury and property damage they might cause with their vehicle. This liability coverage is intended to apply in this type of situation. Pennsylvania state minimum car insurance provides separate coverage amounts for bodily injury and property damage. Learn more about the different types of coverage available under Pennsylvania state minimum car insurance.
Fair Settlement For Medical Event Crash
While Marco didn’t want to punish the at-fault driver, he also didn’t want to suffer this huge financial setback. He wanted fair compensation that would cover all his losses from this crash. We kept tabs on Marco’s treatment and wage losses. This was all part of getting Marco the money he needed to recover his losses. Randall kept this in mind as he built Marco’s case and negotiated with insurance representatives.
In the end, we negotiated a $20,000 settlement with the other driver’s insurance. It’s not huge, but it gave Marco the money he needed to financially recover after this crash. This amount covered the lost income while Marco recovered and paid all the medical bills. It also gave him a little extra to help him out. Marco was happy for the help we were able to provide.
Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Injury Lawyer
The attorneys at Haggerty Silverman & Justice help people physically injured in motor vehicle crashes. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash, an attorney at Haggerty Silverman & Justice may be able to help you. Contact us today for a free personal injury consultation. You don’t pay us anything unless we recover money for you. No win, no fee.