Dangers of Driving While Sick
Getting sick is just part of life and for some, it happens quite often. Some of us get a cold or flu every winter, while others are lucky enough to hardly ever get sick.
It’s likely happened at some point where you’ve had to drive while ill. You may have to drive to a doctor appointment, run errands or even go to work while being under the weather. While you may have thought nothing of driving under these conditions, even driving with a cold can increase your risk of being in a car accident. Research shows that it can reduce your driving skills by as much as 50%. This is because a cold can cause your concentration and reaction time to decline significantly. So can taking over-the-counter cold medications, which can cause drowsiness, dizziness and fatigue. Therefore, be aware of the timing and dosage of your medications.
Also, driving while ill is a distraction. You may have a runny or stuffy nose. Your eyes may be itchy. You may be suffering from chills or a fever. You may feel achy. These symptoms can be hard to manage while driving, so your best course of action is to just stay home and rest.
Because of these factors, you should always avoid driving if you have a severe cold or flu. You should also consider staying home if you have an eye infection, since you could develop blurred vision, which is not a good thing to have while behind the wheel. Ear infections are also a reason to avoid driving, since they can cause dizziness. Be wary about driving with other infections as well. Urinary tract and kidney infections can be painful and cause you to lose focus on the road.
A stomach bug is another medical issue that can make driving difficult. The symptoms can come about quickly and cause severe pain and muscle aches. Plus, you might have to make frequent trips to the bathroom, which is difficult to do while driving. Therefore, plan to take it easy at home for a few days until the symptoms subside.
Don’t overlook back pain. Many people suffer from chronic back pain due to the physical nature of their jobs. Some accidentally tweak their backs from overexertion and suffer from aches and pains for weeks. Unfortunately, back pain can take six weeks or longer to resolve. If your back injury is so painful that it hurts to move, then you should not be driving. Driving requires you to act quickly to avoid hazardous situations, and when you cannot do so, you increase the risk of an accident.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
When we’re not fully focused on the road while driving, accidents are more likely to happen. That’s why driving while sick can be a serious issue.
No matter how your car accident happened, we can help you obtain compensation for damages. The Houston auto accident attorneys at the West Law Office, PLLC can give you the attention and advice you need following a crash. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 281-347-3247 or filling out the online form.
Resource:
driversalert.com/is-driving-while-sick-worth-the-risk/#:~:text=Illnesses%20to%20Avoid%20Driving%20With&text=A%20severe%20cold%20or%20a,who%20were%20fit%20and%20healthy
