Uber driver, passenger hospitalized after medical emergency leads to garage crash
A 48-year-old Uber driver and a passenger were hospitalized Thursday after the driver lost consciousness and struck a parked car and two garages.
According to police, the crash happened around 12:20 p.m. Thursday, June 25, near Margareta Street and Grandville Avenue.
The driver had just picked up a passenger and was attempting to drop them off when he lost consciousness. Police said the driver’s foot pressed the accelerator, causing the vehicle to forward and colliding with a parked car before crashing through two garages.
Both the driver and passenger were injured and taken to a Metro Detroit hospital.
Police did not immediately release the extent of their injuries or the cause of the medical emergency. The crash remains under investigation.
Legal options after an Uber crash in Michigan
Michigan is a no-fault state, which means people injured in a crash may qualify for Personal Injury Protection benefits without first proving who caused the crash.
Because this crash involved an Uber passenger, the insurance review may be more complicated than an ordinary crash. Michigan Law under MCL 500.3114, creates a distinction for injuries that result riding in vehicles used in the business of transporting passengers.
That means app records, the trip receipt, household auto policies, vehicle coverage, rideshare coverage and insurer letters may determine which insurer is responsible for benefits.
Recovering noneconomic losses usually requires a separate claim against an at-fault driver. This may be an option if the injuries meet Michigan’s threshold of serious impairment of body function, permanent serious disfigurement or death under MCL 500.3135.
Crashes caused by medical emergencies
Whether a driver can be considered negligent in a crash involving a medical incident usually depends on whether the condition was reasonably preventable or foreseeable.
A sudden, unexpected loss of consciousness may affect whether the driver is legally at fault. If the driver had warning signs, ignored medical restrictions, failed to take prescribed medication or drove despite knowing a condition could make driving unsafe, negligence may still be an issue.
Because police have not released the cause of the medical emergency, the investigation may be important for determining what happened before the crash.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center is the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates. Our attorneys help injured people and families across Michigan with personal injury, car crashes, no-fault claims, insurance disputes, serious injury claims and wrongful death cases.
If you or a loved one was injured in a Michigan car crash, call Michigan Legal Center at (248) 886-8650 or contact us for a consultation.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.
Michigan Legal Center can help you navigate the issues involved in claims such as this with Michigan car accident medical bills and PIP priority and Michigan Uber and Lyft accident claims.