Here's my brother's sad story.

[280plus]

He's telling me it happened on the day his GEICO renewed and they are saying because of that, he's not covered. They're also jumping on the "You had a medical issue." bandwagon as well to try and avoid the liability. Sad part is, they may have him. He readily admitted to not taking his meds "for two years" to them. The bright side is noone was injured.

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local-beat/Truck-Crashes-Through-Tattoo-Studio--63999772.html

[MillCreek]

Not knowing the specific state laws there, but he can now also probably kiss his license good bye for at least six months.  Most states require at least a six-month seizure-free interval before renewing your license, if you have a seizure disorder. 

Working in healthcare though, I have to say that it astounds me that your brother apparently chose not to take his meds.  He can praise whatever Higher Power he believes in that he did not kill or injure anyone.  In some states, if you have an accident due to a medical condition that you were not compliant with treating, that can be a vehicular manslaughter or assault charge. 

[Standing Wolf]

Working in healthcare though, I have to say that it astounds me that your brother apparently chose not to take his meds.

I've known and worked with plenty of epileptics, at least half of the petit mal variety and probably more. They have a great tendency to stop taking medications. I've seen the same phenomenon in people who take medications for assorted mental ailments: a deep, enduring aversion to taking the pills.

I can't explain it: I just said I've seen it.

[Perd Hapley]

I've seen the same phenomenon in people who take medications for assorted mental ailments: a deep, enduring aversion to taking the pills.

I can't explain it: I just said I've seen it.

It seems very natural to me, at least for some disorders.  One would expect the paranoiac to fear that the pills are being used to control him.  Generally speaking, it's just not unusual for a person to be disturbed by the idea that their feelings and thoughts are being "controlled" by a medication. 

[Declaration Day]

My brother has epilepsy as well.  It surfaced when he was 13 years old.  The doctors put him on tegretol.

  When he was 17 he decided he wanted to wean himself off the drugs due to concerns of long-term health effects.  He had his second seizure two weeks afterwards, fortunately he was just sitting on the couch watching TV.  This one was severe enough to break blood vessels all over his face.  He went back on the meds and hasn't had a problem since.  He's 33 now.

[Viking]

We've had a couple of epileptics at my job. One of them was a temp guy who had worked the entire summer without a problem, we hired him again over Christmas, and just after lunch on the 23d of December, he just fell down and started having seizures. Ambulance was called and he got rolled out on a stretcher.
Another guy had seizures constantly when he did a specific task. It was probably just pure luck that he didn't manage to cut or stab himself or anyone else. Before I worked there though, I've only heard rumours...

Then there was one of the meat control assistants. We were running empty one day (we often do...) and he'd gone to put a better edge on his knives. He suddenly crashed and had seizures as well. Again it was pure luck that made sure he didn't injure himself. He was a bit upset that we had called an ambulance, since they took him to the hospital IIRC, and his driver's license got revoked...

[280plus]

Yes to all, he's a "lucky" SOB as it could have been much worse. He stopped taking the meds due to an aversion to taking meds. He found out much later in his life, maybe only 10 years ago, that he was epileptic. He's 42. He claims it had been two years without a seizure and things were going great. Not so much now. 

[Firethorn]

He's telling me it happened on the day his GEICO renewed and they are saying because of that, he's not covered. They're also jumping on the "You had a medical issue." bandwagon as well to try and avoid the liability. Sad part is, they may have him. He readily admitted to not taking his meds "for two years" to them. The bright side is noone was injured.

Hmmm...  I think GEICO doesn't have a leg to stand on, assuming he paid his policy on/before the renewal date.  As long as he wasn't late, they can't use that as an excuse.  The day your policy renews is not a gap in coverage.

Now, the not taking meds part is a different matter - but if he hasn't been taking them for 2 years and this is his first seizure during that time, he has a very good arguement about it being unforeseeable.

Glad he's okay and that he didn't kill anybody though.

[280plus]

Last I talked to him GEICO was putting up a fight and the lawyers were coming out. 

[grampster]

Tells you a little something about GEICO, eh? 

As long as GEICO received his premium on time, there should be no lapse in coverage.  If there were no questions about pre-existing medical conditions in the application process, GEICO should be on the hook.  I'm with Firethorn on this one.
(But this is another good reason why everyone should READ their insurance policies.)

Be patient and have him tell GEICO in a nice way before he hires and has to pay a lawyer, that if they don't pay in a timely fashion, he'll get a lawyer and they'll have to pay some damages to your brother as well for harrasment and mental anguish inter alia.

The building will probably get fixed by the building owner's insurance and they will subrogate you brother, but that will give him time to nail GEICO.

[280plus]

Thanks grampster, good info to have. 

[Balog]

Isn't driving while refusing to take your epilepsy meds about the same thing as driving drunk? Endangering everyone else...

[PTK]

That really stinks! I'm sorry to hear that it happened, but agree fully with the entire idea of "TAKE THE DAMN MEDS!"

If I weren't taking my medications regularly and on schedule, I wouldn't be safe to drive either.

[280plus]

Isn't driving while refusing to take your epilepsy meds about the same thing as driving drunk? Endangering everyone else...

You aren't expecting me to try and defend him, are you? I've wanted him off the road for years now. He was having seizures even WITH the meds. 

[KD5NRH]

Looks like the reporter (and editor) had a seizure in the second paragraph:

The driver, a man in his mid 30s, was pulling out of Willington Street when it seems he suffered a seizure and just drove straight the Full Sail tattoo studio into the building, according to the fire department.

If I weren't taking my medications regularly and on schedule, I wouldn't be safe to drive either.

Downing a handful of Norco so the headache won't distract you is hardly "safe to drive."  

Then there was one of the meat control assistants.

If it takes assistants to control the meat, you're either not killing it good enough, or you need to start shipping it before it re-evolves to mobility.

[280plus]

He's just "lucky" it was 7 am and there was noone in the tattoo shop.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Check the dates on the Geico policies.  They specify start-coverage and stop-coverage times down to the minute, not just to the day.There may well be a gap in coverage even if the start date and stop date happen to be the same date.  That could give their lawyers something to stand on.

[MillCreek]

Generally speaking, insurance policies both expire and renew as of 12:01 am on the effective date.  The goal of this is to not have a gap in coverage.