As a car accident lawyer like our friends at Council & Associates, LLC can explain, there’s one danger to the road that’s been around for as long as humans have: Fatigue. Read on to learn more about driver fatigue, and see how a lawyer can help if you’ve been involved in a car accident with a fatigued driver.
What Is Driver Fatigue?
Driver fatigue is basically exactly what it sound like. “Driver fatigue” is a term used for any situation in which a driver is too tired to maintain a safe road environment for other commuters. There are many reasons for driver fatigue, and there are many warning signs.
When you’re tired behind the wheel, you’re a fatigued driver. And when you’re a fatigued driver, you’re a dangerous driver. Everyone has experienced driver fatigue at one point in time, but failing to acknowledge your tiredness and continuing to drive can lead to accidents.
What Causes Driver Fatigue?
Driver fatigue is most often caused by a simple lack of sleep. However, there are other reasons a driver might be too tired to drive safely. Sometimes a long workday can completely drain a driver, and in other cases a serious workout can leave someone totally wiped out.
Aside from physical exertion and a lack of sleep, driver fatigue can also be caused by certain medications. Drowsiness-inducing drugs can lead to dangerous actions behind the wheel, and they’ve been the cause of many an accident.
What Are Some Warning Signs Of Driver Fatigue?
There are plenty of warning signs to keep in mind. Of course the first is tiredness: Yawning, wandering thoughts, and feeling like your eyelids are getting heavier and heavier. However, other symptoms of driver fatigue are unique to driving.
Sometimes driver fatigue can result in forgetting what happened during the past few minutes or miles, and in other cases a fatigued driver can swerve across lanes or make delayed, unsafe decisions behind the wheel.
How Can I Prevent Driver Fatigue?
The best way to prevent driver fatigue is to just get enough sleep before hitting the road. Unfortunately, in our fast-paced society, getting enough sleep is a luxury for most of us working that 9-5 life. If you can’t get enough sleep but you still need to drive, make sure you’re eating healthy. Heavy foods can cause sleepiness.
A lot of people have tricks they swear by to keep themselves awake on long drives. We don’t recommend them. Cranking some music, opening the windows, or blasting the AC… they may work in the short term, but they’ll eventually lull you into a false sense of security. If you’re feeling really tired out, try to find someplace where you can catch a nap in safety.
Why Should I Call A Lawyer?
It can be difficult to pinpoint a car accident on a fatigued driver. After all, the collision itself may send a jolt of adrenaline through everyone involved. However, if you have dashcam evidence (or any other evidence) that the person who caused your accident was too tired to be at the wheel, you may have a lawsuit on your hands.
You shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket because of someone else’s responsibility. Fortunately, a lawyer can help you get some much-needed financial compensation. Find a lawyer you can trust, and reach out for a free consultation.