How Drowsy Driving Can Lead to Personal Injury
You might not think twice about getting behind the wheel when you feel a bit sleepy, but this habit known as drowsy driving can be dangerous. Around 10% of car crashes are estimated to be caused by fatigued drivers.
If a drowsy driver lets their attention lapse behind the wheel and crashes into you, you could face serious injuries and expensive recovery. Here's what personal injury lawyers what you to know about drowsy driving.
Why Is Drowsy Driving Dangerous?
Driving while fatigued is, surprisingly, similar to driving drunk. Alcohol and sleep deprivation can lower a person's reflexes, making it harder to react in time to obstacles on the road. Drowsy drivers have trouble staying in their lanes, and they're more likely to tailgate other drivers, increasing the risk of a rear-end crash.
The longer a person stays awake without getting sleep, the worse their driving skills become. Studies have shown that a person who has been awake for 24 consecutive hours will have the same driving ability as a person with 0.10 blood-alcohol content, which is higher than the legal limit for alcohol intoxication. If you wouldn't get behind the wheel drunk, then avoid driving if you feel tired.
What Should You Do If a Drowsy Driver Causes a Car Accident?
You may take precautions to get adequate sleep before driving, but not everyone on the road does. If a fatigued driver causes a car accident and hits you, you might face extensive damage to your vehicle in addition to serious injuries that require months to recover from. If you're out of work due to your injuries, those lost wages and medical bills can create serious financial hardship. Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible driver may be the best way to recoup those expenses.
The at-fault driver might not admit to being drowsy at the time of the crash, so your personal injury lawyer may use evidence from the accident scene to prove that their drowsy driving caused your injuries. For example, the crash evidence may show that the other driver failed to take evasive action before the impact, showing that they were too sleepy to try to avoid the collision.
Drowsy driving is dangerous, so drivers who get behind the wheel without adequate sleep may be found negligent in a personal injury lawsuit. If this negligent behavior caused you to suffer severe injuries, services like Piedra | London, P.A. could help you seek compensation.