Driver critical after I-75 crash in Mt. Morris Township

A man was hospitalized in critical condition after his pickup truck hit a tree Tuesday night.

The crash happened Oct. 20 on northbound I-75 near Stanley Road in Mt. Morris Township. The Mt. Morris Township Police Department said officers found him in cardiac arrest.

A caller reported that the pickup sideswiped the median wall, left the road and hit a tree.

Mount Morris Township Fire Department Station 1 responded to reported entrapment and helped the driver out of the pickup. The vehicle was later removed.

Police said a medical emergency may have led to the crash.

Medical emergencies and driver negligence in Michigan

In White v. Taylor Distributing Co., the Michigan Supreme Court explained that a sudden, unexpected blackout can overcome a legal presumption that a driver was negligent, or failed to use reasonable care. The emergency must be totally unexpected and not of the driver's own making.

Warning symptoms can change that analysis. If a driver knew or should have known they were too ill to drive but continued anyway, a claimed emergency may not excuse their conduct.

The driver's account, medical records and timing of symptoms can help determine whether the loss of consciousness occurred before impact and whether it was foreseeable. Michigan Legal Center discusses how those facts affect medical-emergency claims after Michigan crashes.

Get help from Michigan Legal Center

Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles car accident, serious injury and insurance dispute claims.

If you have questions about a Michigan crash involving a medical emergency, contact Michigan Legal Center to ask about a case review.

There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.