Driver Crashes Into Church Building After Suffering Medical Emergency While Driving
On December 30, an SUV was traveling on Ribault Road in Port Royal when the driver experienced what news sources described as a medical emergency. He lost control of the car and crossed the center lines. There were no cars oncoming, and his SUV continued traveling sideways until it struck a road sign, knocking it down. The SUV then collided with the wall of the Iglesia Cristiana Fe y Obras. No one was inside the church building at the time of the accident. When the police arrived, the driver was conscious, and an ambulance transported him to the hospital for treatment. News reports described his injuries as minor. Harry Villacis, the pastor of the church, said that his church would hold services at another location until the church building was repaired. If you got injured in a car accident where the driver experienced a medical episode and lost control of the car, contact a Columbia car accident lawyer.
Who Is Responsible for Accidents Caused by Drivers’ Health Emergencies
Regarding the accident where a vehicle crashed into the Iglesia Cristiana Fe y Obras in Port Royal, media reports did not say anything about the nature of the medical emergency that the driver experienced. When drivers suffer sudden health episodes that cause them to lose control of their cars, the reasons for the medical emergency can affect the decisions by insurance companies or, in the case of car accident lawsuits, of the courts in apportioning fault for the accident. South Carolina is a comparative negligence state, which means that it is possible for more than one party to bear responsibility for the accident, including but not limited to the drivers of the vehicles involved.
If the medical emergency was preventable, then the party who failed to prevent it will bear at least part of the fault for the accident. For example, the driver is at fault if he or she took a prescription medication where the instructions indicate that patients should not drive while taking it, even if the driver had a valid prescription. If a doctor or pharmacist prescribed or dispensed the medication without instructing the patient not to drive, then they could be liable. If the medication caused an unexpected adverse reaction, it could be a case of product liability. This is what happened when a driver’s wearable insulin pump dispensed too much insulin, causing the driver to lose consciousness because of low blood sugar. In these instances, the driver can file a claim against the doctor or pharmacy or the drug manufacturer for the share of damages proportional to that party’s percentage of fault. Anyone else who got injured in the accident has the same right.
Let Us Help You Today
The personal injury lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you get justice after a car accident caused by a medical emergency. Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.
Source:
wtoc.com/2026/01/01/beaufort-co-church-searches-new-home-after-car-crashes-into-their-building/
