We all know the obvious culprits that affect driving ability, like drinking, texting, and drowsiness, but what about illness? Many people do not consider being sick as dangerous or a reason to find alternative transportation but doing so could actually save lives.
Is it Dangerous to Drive in Florida While You Are Sick?
Driving while sick can be considered distracted driving and should be avoided for the safety of you and the people around you. You may be wondering why driving while sick is considered to be dangerous. Here are a few reasons why you might want to think twice about getting behind the wheel when you have an illness:
- Sneezing: Since our eyes close when we sneeze, we are not able to see what is coming up ahead of us, even if it is just for a second. When we are sick, we can be prone to sneeze more often and have sneezing fits that could prevent us from seeing the road for longer durations of time.
- Drowsiness: Between our bodies working overtime to fight an illness and not getting quality sleep, illnesses often leave us feeling exhausted. Although the exact number of accidents caused by drowsiness is nearly impossible to calculate, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that over 90,000 crashes involved a drowsy driver.
- Blowing your nose: The repetitive nose-blowing that we are all susceptible to when we are sick can be dangerous when you are driving. Anything that takes your attention away from driving can be dangerous. This includes when you shift your focus away from the road and onto grabbing a tissue and cleaning out your nose.
- Medication side effects: Certain medications and various cold medicines can have different side effects that could make driving irresponsible. Side effects such as dizziness, nervousness, drowsiness, breathing issues, and increased heart rate are not uncommon in many over-the-counter drugs and could make getting behind the wheel a hazard.
- Slower reaction times: Illnesses can make it difficult to pay attention to anything that is going on around you, and that brain fog can affect your ability to react quickly, which could cause an accident.
If you do not feel like you are well enough to go to work, you probably should not get in the driver’s seat. Always arrange to have someone else drive you to the doctor’s office if you feel like you are exhausted or ill.
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a car accident that a driver with an illness caused, you could be entitled to compensation for your damages.
Should You Hire a Lawyer if a Sick Driver in Florida Injured You in a Car Accident?
If a driver were to cause an accident because they were driving while sick, they could be held liable for negligence. Since driving with a cold or the flu can impact a person’s ability to drive safely, a case could be made against someone who has injured someone from driving while sick.
Damages suffered in a car accident that resulted from a sick driver may be eligible for compensation recovery. Contact Attorney Frank P. Marsalisi of St. Petersburg’s Marsalisi Law to schedule a free, confidential evaluation of your Florida car accident case today. Call (727) 800-5052 or send us a completed contact form today for more information.
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