Driver Fatigue Played a Role in my Car Accident
With many accidents happening on highways in Delaware each year, it’s hard to say what the leading causes are at times. However, we know that each year, drivers enter the roads after a long day of work and they as well as other drivers never make it home because they are injured or killed by fatigue. What role does fatigue play in car accidents?
Driver fatigue plays a role in a wide variety of cases. Fatigue is not just your normal ‘tired,’ it is a type of tiredness brought on by not getting enough rest over a long period of time. Individuals who experience fatigue do so because of physical exertion or illness. It is recommended that drivers get between seven and eight hours of sleep every night; however, this does not always happen. As a result, drivers get on our roadways and fall asleep at the wheel, taking out many drivers in an accident along the way. If a driver falls asleep for just four seconds traveling at a high speed, they could have already driven the length of a football field. This does a lot of damage to many drivers.
The Risks
According to the CDC, an estimated 1 in 25 adults are reported as falling asleep in the wheel in a 30-day time period. Drowsy driving was actually the cause of 72,000 crashes and 800 deaths in 2013 on our roadways! Those who do not get enough sleep, those who operate commercial vehicles, shift workers, and those with untreated sleep disorders are most likely to drive drowsily on our roads. There are many warning signs that tell a driver to pull off and get some rest, such as yawning frequently, difficulty remembering the miles you’ve driven, drifting from your lane, and hitting rumble strips on the road.
Drowsy driving results in high personal and economic costs for drivers, as lawsuits usually stem from them. If you have been injured by a drowsy driver who fell asleep at the wheel and came into your lane, you are probably looking for compensation for your injuries. Multi-million dollar settlements have resulted from many of these cases to families who have been injured or loved ones have been killed.
Showing That You Deserve Compensation in Your Personal Injury Case
If you have been injured by a drowsy driver and want to seek compensation for costs like medical bills, lost time at work due to your injuries, and more, you can turn to us in your time of need. There are many factors that will help you make your case, such as the following:
- Police Reports: Perhaps a witness on the scene of the accident saw the other driver falling asleep at the wheel. Maybe the driver admitted that they dozed off for a couple of minutes. No matter what, the details should be documented in your police report.
- Traffic Laws: Maybe a truck driver did not abide by the laws of the road that require them to get ample sleep before they enter the roadways. No matter what, if laws were not abided by, the driver acted negligently.
If you have been injured by a drowsy driver, it is important that you speak to us as soon as possible. If another driver was at fault for your injuries, we can help you from start to finish in your case. Call us today at Edelstein Martin & Nelson for more information on how we can help. We are waiting to hear from you at 800-300-0909.
Sources:
http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/statistics/summaries/fatigue-statistics
https://www.cdc.gov/features/dsdrowsydriving/index.html
