Perspective
Dec. 7, 2016
Understanding the 'sudden illness' defense in California courts
The rule is deceptively simple: If a person suddenly becomes ill while driving and is unable to control their vehicle as a result, that person is not chargeable with negligence for harm to others in an accident. By Crawford Appleby
Crawford Appleby
Attorney
Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman
Crawford is the owner of the free, online, tentative rulings database: www.rulings.law. He concentrates his practice on transportation accidents and qui tam claims.
Decades after automobiles arrived on California highways, our courts first recognized the "sudden illness" while driving defense. The rule is deceptively simple: If a person suddenly becomes ill while driving and is unable to control their vehicle as a result, that person is not chargeable with negligence for harm to others in an accident. Waters v. Pacific Coast Dairy, Limited Mut. Compensation Ins. Co., Intervener, 5...
For only $95 a month (the price of 2 article purchases)
Receive unlimited article access and full access to our archives,
Daily Appellate Report, award winning columns, and our
Verdicts and Settlements.
Or
$795 for an entire year!
Or access this article for $45
(Purchase provides 7-day access to this article. Printing, posting or downloading is not allowed.)
Already a subscriber?
Sign In