Driver fatigue is incredibly dangerous in Cartersville. Operating a vehicle on a lack of sleep puts everyone at risk. If you suffered injuries in a driver fatigue-related car accident, you have rights. Contact a Cartersville driver fatigue accident lawyer to learn more.
Driving while fatigued is a form of negligence. If drowsy driving led to your accident, it’s essential to know your options. You might be entitled to financial compensation for your costs.
John Foy & Associates can help. We have over 20 years of experience helping accident victims. We are not afraid to fight for your financial recovery. To get a FREE consultation with us, call (404) 400-4000, or contact us online.
The Shocking Dangers of Driver Fatigue in Cartersville
Many people fail to get enough sleep each night. But many of us don’t realize just how dangerous this is for driving.
The statistics on driver fatigue are eye-opening:
- Around one in 25 adults say they have fallen asleep while driving in the past 30 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Drowsy driving caused at least 795 deaths in 2017, according to the National Highway Safety Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Many experts believe those numbers are even higher.
- A National Sleep Foundation poll found that 36% of Americans have fallen asleep while driving or driven while fatigued.
The CDC estimates that fatigued driving could cause up to 6,000 deadly accidents per year. Driver fatigue is difficult to measure. Many cases of drowsy driving likely go unreported.
In some situations, driver fatigue can be as dangerous as drunk driving. When drivers have been without rest or sleep for 18 hours, they act similarly to an impaired driver. It’s the same as driving with a blood-alcohol level (BAC) of 0.05. (The legal limit is 0.08.)
Too many people drive while low on sleep. Those who work long or late shifts are especially at risk. Cartersville drivers should be careful to avoid fatigued driving.
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Common Signs of Driver Fatigue
There are some tell-tale signs of drowsy driving. If someone has any of these signs, they should probably not be driving:
- Momentarily closing their eyes
- Head-nodding
- Having trouble recognizing traffic signs or signals
- Being slow to respond
- Blinking rapidly
- Yawning a lot
Passengers might need to alert a drowsy driver. If the passenger is licensed to drive, they can switch places with the fatigued driver.
You might notice someone is tired from the outside of their vehicle. Here are some signs that someone could be falling asleep behind the wheel:
- Drifting back and forth on the road
- Driving way below the speed limit
- Running red lights or ignoring other signs
- Running off the road
- Over-correcting after drifting out of a lane
Be very cautious if you come across this type of driving. The driver could be drowsy or somehow impaired. Stay away or pass them quickly. If you need to, pull over until they are ahead of you.
If the driver could endanger others, call the police. Driver fatigue can easily cause a severe accident. Other motorists could suffer injuries or die in a crash.
How Driver Fatigue Happens in Cartersville
Why do people become so fatigued while driving? There are many different factors. Someone might be tired because of:
- Less than seven hours of sleep a night.
- Untreated sleep disorders.
- Extended work shifts or night shifts.
- Commercial driving jobs.
- Medications that cause drowsiness.
- Drugs or alcohol.
Truck drivers are especially at risk for driver fatigue. Truckers spend long periods on the roads and can travel thousands of miles each week.
Grueling deadlines might encourage a trucker to forgo rest periods and “push through” their fatigue. But this is incredibly dangerous.
If a fatigued driver caused your accident, talk to a lawyer. You will need to know your compensation options. You might qualify for a full recovery of your costs.
What a Cartersville Driver Fatigue Accident Lawyer does for You
If someone else caused your accident, they are responsible for the damages. To pursue recovery, you will need to file a personal injury claim against the other driver’s insurance company.
A personal injury claim must include your total damages. It will also need to show how the other driver is liable. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you do this.
Here are some ways a Cartersville lawyer will help your case:
- Gathering evidence from the accident scene
- Collecting evidence of the driver’s fatigue
- Getting traffic camera footage (if there was any) of the accident
- Interviewing witnesses to your accident
- Compiling evidence of your damages
- Determine what type of settlement you deserve
- Communicating and negotiating with the insurance company
You might be entitled to full compensation for your costs. However, you will need to build a strong claim first. A driver fatigue lawyer can help you do this.
Don’t Trust the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
Sadly, insurance companies are never on your side. After the accident, the other driver’s insurer will try to reduce their liability. They will look for ways to pay less than you deserve.
Common insurance company tactics include:
- Being friendly towards you so that they earn your trust
- Getting you to say something they can use against you
- Offering you a lowball settlement
- Downplaying the severity of your injuries
- Blaming you for the accident.
It’s best to contact a trusted lawyer immediately. They can help you handle the insurance company. Plus, insurers are more likely to offer you a fair settlement if they see you have a lawyer.
Talk to a Cartersville Driver Fatigue Accident Lawyer for Free Today
Did another driver’s fatigue lead to your accident? Don’t get stuck paying for the damages. Talk to an experienced lawyer about your options today.
At John Foy & Associates, we can help. We have 20-plus years of experience helping accident victims. We know what it takes to build a successful case.
We do not charge a fee unless we win your case. You can get started risk-free today. For a FREE consultation, call (404) 400-4000, or contact us online.
(404) 400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
