Medical conditions are a serious hazard on the road. Each year, people are injured and killed because motorists fall ill behind the wheel. Heart attacks, seizures, strokes, and other medical emergencies cause Miami pedestrian accidents and car accidents each year. Even milder conditions, such as sleep apnea, cause serious Miami truck accidents. To avoid this type of tragedy from happening to you:
1) Get regular checkups and get symptoms checked out promptly. Not knowing that you have a medical condition can be one of the most dangerous situations. Some conditions – including high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and cardiac disease – are very dangerous for motorists but may not have obvious symptoms. Getting regular checkups and checks of your vitals is an important part of staying proactive about your health and safety.
2) Get treatment and follow doctor directions carefully to manage your condition. If you do have a condition that can affect your driving ability, it is important to manage your condition as well as possible. Consult with your doctor as needed and follow the treatment plan as prescribed.
3) Do not get back on the road until you are ready. Ask your doctor about your driving skills and how they may be affected. If you are diagnosed with an illness that affects your coordination, cognitive skills, vision, or mobility you may wish to ask your doctor how it will affect your driving ability. You may need some accessibility features for your car or you may need to get the condition under control before you get back to driving.
4) Talk to your pharmacist about any medications you may be taking. Medications that make you sleepy or drowsy can be dangerous. Even over the counter medications can affect your ability to drive, so read labels carefully and ask if you have any questions.
5) Take driving slow. Avoid higher-risk driving. If you have a medical condition that you are getting used to, ease back into driving as you learn to cope with your health. Avoid longer drives, night driving, and riskier driving situations until you are sure that you can handle them.
6) Take driving refresher courses or an evaluation of your driving skills. If your health concern affects your mobility, vision, cognitive skills, or response times, consider getting your driving evaluated by a driving instruction or expert. Discussing your concerns and addressing your problems can help you to drive safely.
7) Get the technology you need for your car to make driving easier. New safety and accessibility tools are developed every day and can help make driving easier and safer for you, helping you avoid Miami car collisions. Consider some of these features for your car to make you a safer – and more confident – driver.
If you have been injured in a Miami truck accident, contact the Flaxman Law Group to arrange for a free accident consultation. Your consultation comes with no obligation and allows you to discuss your case with a personal injury attorney. Your case may be worth more than you think, so get details about your rights and options before you make any final decisions about your situation.