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Car Insurance After Seizure-related Accident?

Fri, 02/24/2017 - 12:42
Hi, I am a 50-year man living in New Jersey. I had three grand mal seizures when I was a teenager. Since the age of 19 my epilepsy had been completely controlled by 400 mg a day of Dilantin/phenytoin sodium. For 30 years, nothing. For the last 8 years I have been driving a car on a daily basis. In 2016, I had a complex partial seizure while driving on the highway with my entire family in the car. Nobody was hurt but the car was totalled. I am now not driving for at least 6 to 12 months in accordance to with New Jersey law and my neurologist's recommendations. I am worried about what will happen to me if my doctor and the NJ DMV medical board allow me to eventually return to driving. What will happen with my insurance? Will the insurance companies jack my rates so much that it will be financially impossible/impractical to drive? Has anyone else had a similar experience? If so, do you know of auto insurance companies that are willing to provide insurance at reasonable rates to people with a history of epilepsy? I am truly grateful for any time and advice that any of you can provide. Thank you!

Comments

I have epilepsy but am in

Submitted by Ktswimmer15 on Wed, 2019-08-07 - 17:32
I have epilepsy but am in Texas. Our state requires us to not drive for a seizure free period of three months. I talked with a buddy of mine that works in insurance sales. He said that most auto insurance companies can drop you since we are considered a liability. However other companies will cover you but may cost you a lot more. I don’t think you have to mention this your medical conditions to your auto insurance for many of my friends with epilepsy do not. Like Gail stated no one ever knows when they are going to have a heart attach or seizure. I would suggest all-state. Do you know if after your accident there was a crash incident report filed? I’m also going through a similar incident but my accident was from a blow out on the highway which after the crash and hitting my head caused a seizure. No other vehicles were hit, or a crash report filed. There was not any witnesses present in my vehicle or on the highway. So no evidence that my wreck was due to having a seizure prior to my tire blowing out. This happened it five pm traffic 50-60 mph. My toddler and I veered to the left hitting the wall. No one was injured. No airbags went off. I can’t explain it but we are seriously lucky to be alive. I would not tell auto insurance about your medical history but If dept of motor vehicles is aware then your insurance will most likely increase or they may no longer want to cover you. This is a huge gray area for people with disabilities and driving. How are people supposed to live their lives when the law states epileptic persons can operate a motor vehicle after months of being seizure free or even years. What if your having your first ever seizure while driving who is at fault? 

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Submitted by doberso on Mon, 2019-11-11 - 07:09
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Submitted by doberso on Mon, 2019-11-11 - 07:09
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