Thousands of car accidents occur on the I-5 stretch of San Diego. While most of us blame drunk drivers or using the phone while driving, we often ignore one thing: a crying driver. Drivers might be trying to hold back tears while driving after hearing some bad news. These can include death in the family, a breakup, or tough medical news. The tears and emotional pain may blur your vision and mind, which can cause an accident.
When emotional distress leads to a car accident, the legal aspects get complex.
- The legal grey zone
As per California Law, drivers must operate vehicles with ‘reasonable care’. However, if you are in the middle of an emotional crisis, the ‘reasonable’ aspect may be missing. Courts believe that if you are emotionally unstable and too upset, you should not drive at all. The law requires you to pull over, collect yourself, or find an alternative way home.
However, there are subtle nuances. Sudden emergencies while you are driving, such as receiving news of a family member’s death via phone call, can make you upset. You may have documented medical conditions like anxiety disorder or PTSD, leading to sudden panic attacks, which could factor in your case.
- Who pays when tears cause crashes?
Although emotional distress is not a legal defense, it can affect the determination of damages and liability. The best car accident attorneys San Diego can help with this matter. Insurance companies pursue claims against the crying driver. The driver will be liable for all types of damages – vehicle repairs, medical bills, lost wages, and more.
However, if your emotional breakdown is due to someone else who led to the crash, there can be third-party liability. For instance, your employer fires you illegally in a traumatic way, and you crash immediately after leaving the office. Or your ex-spouse confronts you, triggering a panic attack that leads to an accident. Such situations lead to complex legal consequences. Only expert lawyers can deal with such cases efficiently.
- What should you do, actually?
There may be situations when you are emotionally overwhelmed while driving. In such cases, it is safe to pull over immediately at gas stations, beach parking lots, or any safe place. If you don’t feel confident, call someone to pick you up or use a rideshare service. Gather yourself up and take several deep breaths before you think of driving again. This will save you from hassles later on.
In case you are in an accident with someone who is already emotionally distraught, document everything you can. Keep a note of the driver’s condition (crying, shaking) or what upset them. This is important information that car accident attorneys at hhjtrialattorneys.com may ask for.
Summing it up
In San Diego, the law shows little sympathy for crying drivers. An emotional breakdown might cause accidents, but it is not a valid excuse. Drivers must understand when it becomes overwhelming and the time to pull over and ask for help. And in case the accident happens, make sure to consult a reliable lawyer.