New York Malpractice & Injury Lawyer Blog
As medical malpractice attorneys, we handle a wide variety of cases. Typically, we hear from clients who have been directly injured by a medical professional or, in some cases, have children who have been injured. In other instances, we must determine if something could have been inadvertently caused by a medical professional. Such is the case in some car accidents. What may come as a surprise to many people is that car accidents, in specific cases, can be considered a form of medical malpractice. But how?
Normally, a car accident is caused by a driver. Someone is speeding, someone is driving recklessly or someone is intoxicated. There are a variety of reasons that people are involved in accidents. In some cases, the cause of an accident occurs well before the collision. This is the case when a car accident is considered a form of medical malpractice. Here is what happens.
Example 1:
A doctor prescribes a patient medication. That doctor fails to advise the patient that the medication may impair their ability to drive. The doctor may fail to take into account the effect the medication will have with other prescriptions the patient is currently on. In either case, the patient drives and is involved in an accident due to some impairment caused by the medication.
Example 2:
The patient is diagnosed with a medical condition that could impair their ability to drive safely. The doctor fails to advise the patient of the effects of their diagnosis or that they should reconsider driving during certain periods. The patient is involved in an accident that is directly related to their medical condition.
In cases such as these, a car accident can be considered medical malpractice if other factors are proven. If you believe that you were involved in a car accident due to a failure by your medical provider, call our offices. We will review the details of your case and advise you how to best proceed. Call us now for a free initial case evaluation.