Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

A seizure while driving

Sat, 01/06/2007 - 19:46
Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
I am 23 and suffer from seizures. I was driving my two children to school when i had a seizure. I blacked out and wrecked. Thank god my kids weren't hurt but i ended up staying in the hospital for 38 days and thay told me it was EP and put me on lamictal. I knew something was wrong before the accident but i did not see a doctor. Now i wish i would have.

Comments

Re: Driving...

Submitted by kenster1 on Thu, 2008-06-05 - 12:51

 

    I am confused about something. In Virginia the law states that if you have an aura that indicates that you are going to have a seizure then you can keep your DL. My Neurologist has told me not to drive but my family care physician says if the dmv has'nt sent me a letter and pulled it then legally I can drive. What are your thoughts on this?

 

    I am confused about something. In Virginia the law states that if you have an aura that indicates that you are going to have a seizure then you can keep your DL. My Neurologist has told me not to drive but my family care physician says if the dmv has'nt sent me a letter and pulled it then legally I can drive. What are your thoughts on this?

Re: Driving...

Submitted by one4gimp on Thu, 2008-06-05 - 15:06
My Thought are don't drive. ultimately it's up to you. But, I used to live in California and as long as you took your meds and had been seizure free 6mos I think? (it's been so long now). you could drive. I used to get auras then too, so I thought everything would be fine. Then one day on my way home from work I had a partial seizure and blew through a red light (I still swear it was green) but that was probably the one a block earlier. witnesses say I never slowed down and hit one car pushing it through the intersection into another and that car hit another with the first car ending up in a parking lot on the other side of the intersection. Those people were hurt pretty badly the others wern't although one lady was pregnant I was driving a 64 chev pickup and broke the steering wheel with my face broke my arm and a couple ribs. and bent the frame of the truck. I've never driven since this has been 10years now loosing your independedence is lousy at first but with supportive friends and family it's not so bad if you live near public transportation it's even easier some states even offer dicount passes where I live now in Indiana we don't have public transportation so I bought a recumbant trike a sun EZ-3 21speed it's really cool. and my wife and I shop together she calls it date night. But taking the chance driving is not worth hurting or killing someone else or yourself!

Re: Driving...

Submitted by crashllama on Thu, 2008-06-05 - 17:19

I say we all get Hummers and then we can go over things instead of hitting them. 

I get torn on the driving issue.  We aren't allowed to drive, yet if you drink under the alchohol limit, you can drive.  Teenagers cause most of the accidents..older people do too.  I've seen people talking on cell phones, doing their makeup and I saw some guy reading the paper at the lights.   What about sleep deprivation accidents? Why is it we get "targeted" yet these people get away with it all the time?  You have more of a chance of getting hit by those people than by someone having a seizure.

I understand having a seizure is a serious matter..don't get me wrong.  The thought of killing or seriously hurting someone makes me sick and we all have a responsibility to be safe and keep others safe.  But so do those people.  It's not fair that we get our licenses taken away, yet there are worse drivers than us out there.    

 

I say we all get Hummers and then we can go over things instead of hitting them. 

I get torn on the driving issue.  We aren't allowed to drive, yet if you drink under the alchohol limit, you can drive.  Teenagers cause most of the accidents..older people do too.  I've seen people talking on cell phones, doing their makeup and I saw some guy reading the paper at the lights.   What about sleep deprivation accidents? Why is it we get "targeted" yet these people get away with it all the time?  You have more of a chance of getting hit by those people than by someone having a seizure.

I understand having a seizure is a serious matter..don't get me wrong.  The thought of killing or seriously hurting someone makes me sick and we all have a responsibility to be safe and keep others safe.  But so do those people.  It's not fair that we get our licenses taken away, yet there are worse drivers than us out there.    

 

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.

Subscribe