Medical emergency sends car into Clio building
A driver was hospitalized Friday morning after a medical emergency caused them to crash into a Clio building.
The Clio Police Department said Genesee County Central Dispatch received the call at about 10:54 a.m. Sept. 18 in the 300 block of South Mill Street. Officers arrived about two minutes later.
Bystanders told officers the driver was trying to park outside Advanced Physical Therapy Center when the medical emergency occurred. They unintentionally accelerated and drove over the sidewalk into the building.
The driver received medical care at the scene before being taken to a local hospital for further treatment. Neither the driver nor anyone else was injured by the crash itself, police said.
How does a medical emergency affect driver responsibility in Michigan?
A sudden medical emergency can affect whether a driver was negligent, but it doesn’t automatically excuse responsibility for a crash.
In White v. Taylor Distributing Co., the Michigan Supreme Court explained that an unexpected blackout could overcome a legal presumption of negligence. The emergency must be totally unexpected and not of the driver’s own making. Evidence that a driver felt ill or had warning symptoms before continuing to drive can prevent that argument from resolving the case.
Medical records, the timing of symptoms and witness accounts can help establish whether the driver had reason to anticipate losing control. Michigan Legal Center’s discussion of medical emergencies and driver responsibility explains how those issues can affect a crash claim.
Who pays when a car damages a building in Michigan?
Michigan property protection insurance can cover accidental damage a vehicle causes to another person’s building in Michigan, subject to statutory requirements and exclusions. Under MCL 500.3121, qualifying benefits are payable without regard to fault. A dispute about whether a driver was negligent therefore doesn’t automatically prevent payment for covered building damage.
Benefits generally cover the lesser of reasonable repair costs or replacement costs less depreciation, plus applicable loss of use. The statute limits payment under one policy to $1 million for all property damage arising from one accident.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles car accident injury and no-fault insurance claims.
If a crash involving a medical emergency has raised questions about responsibility or insurance coverage, Contact Michigan Legal Center to ask whether the matter falls within Michigan Legal Center’s practice areas.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.
Information about Michigan car accident claims explains the types of injury and insurance matters Michigan Legal Center handles.