Dizziness and Driving
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
February 11, 2009
Topic: Car Accidents
For people who suffer from dizziness caused by inner ear or vestibular disorders, driving can be difficult.
According to the Vestibular Disorder Association, inner ear disorders can cause dizziness, hearing changes, fatigue, nausea, anxiety and vertigo - the sensation that you're moving, spinning or falling even though you're not. Specific inner ear disorders include Meniere's Disease, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Secondary Endolymphatic Hydrops, Labrynthitis and Vestibular Neuritis.
As researchers noted in the Journal of Safety Research, some patients with a vestibular disorder have been advised by their doctors not to drive. The article, "Driving disability and dizziness" states:
"People with vestibular disorders rely heavily on visual information for spatial orientation, to reduce vertigo, to tell them when they are steering straight ahead, and to tell them when they are upright. They become disoriented more easily than normal people by extraneous visual stimuli, or visual noise. These problems are reflected in their significant difficulty driving in reduced visual conditions at night or in the rain. Their difficulty making left turns, driving on freeways and other high traffic roads, changing lanes while driving, and driving during rush hour may be partly attributed to increased sensitivity to motion of other objects that they see."
Many of the patients interviewed for the study lived in the Houston and Birmingham areas. Though many indicated they would take public transportation, it was not convenient or accessible.
Fortunately, the patients who participated in the study reported fewer instances of being stopped by the police. The crash rates for people suffering from a vestibular disorder were no different than from those of the general population.
The researchers opined: "This finding probably reflects the caution with which most patients drive."
At The Hoffmann Law Firm, we hope you can avoid an auto accident. However, if you are involved in a car crash, help is available. Please schedule a free consultation with motor vehicle accident attorney Chris Hoffmann by calling us at 314.361.4242 or filling out our personal injury intake form.
Topics
Recent Updates
April 30, 2009
Missouri Motorcycle Legislation Headed to Governor
April 23, 2009
Hit and Run Accident Kills Pedestrian
April 16, 2009
St. Louis Trucking Accident Leads to Manslaughter Charges
April 09, 2009
Traumatic Amputations and Automobile Accidents
April 02, 2009
Head injuries in St. Louis may one day be detected by a blood test
