Grapevine Fatigued Driver Accident Lawyer
Did you know that 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep at night? As our lives become busier, it’s common to cut back on sleep. However, being tired all the time can have severe consequences. Fatigue is one of the leading causes of car and truck accidents in the United States.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy driving caused 91,000 car and truck accidents in 2017. Fatigue accidents resulted in approximately 50,000 injuries and 795 deaths that same year. Sadly, the vast majority of fatigued driver accidents are preventable.
When a truck driver becomes fatigued, they may cause multi-car accidents resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. A fatigued truck driver is also more likely to be involved in injury accidents and fatal crashes.
Were you involved in a truck accident with a fatigued driver? If so, you may be eligible for compensation. An accident settlement can help you pay medical bills, cover lost wages, and replace your damaged vehicle. Make an appointment online or dial (469) 998-4069 to speak to a Grapevine, TX accident lawyer.
Our legal team will be happy to answer your questions and help you determine the best course of action. Legal consultations are always 100% free and there’s no obligation. If we don’t help you win your fatigued driver accident case, you’ll never pay for our services.
Fatigue Is as Dangerous as Drinking and Driving
Life doesn’t always go as planned. Sooner or later, everyone has a sleepless night or a situation where they don’t get enough rest. You may feel a little groggy or moody in the morning, but you can still function. But you can still drive safely when you’re tired, right? Wrong.
Multiple studies suggest that fatigued driving is just as dangerous as driving under the influence. You are three times more likely to be involved in a car or truck accident when you’re drowsy. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that losing two hours of sleep is equivalent to drinking three beers. After being awake for 20 hours or more, a driver’s impairment level is the same as a 0.08% blood alcohol level.
Everyone knows that falling asleep at the wheel is extremely dangerous. However, a car or truck driver doesn’t need to doze off completely to cause a severe collision. Simply being tired is enough to dramatically increase accident risk.
A fatigued driver can cause car and truck accidents due to the following reasons:
Slower Reaction Time
When fatigued, truck drivers can’t react quickly to hazards in the road. They may be unable to brake or swerve in time to avoid causing an accident. For drivers operating a large truck like a tractor-trailer, slower reaction time due to fatigue can result in serious collisions.
Professional truck drivers already need extra time to bring their vehicles to a complete stop. When fatigue reduces their alertness, the consequences can be fatal.
Impaired Judgment
Fatigue also impairs a driver’s judgment. Fatigued drivers may misjudge their speed as well as their distance to other vehicles. This can result in reckless behavior like improper lane changes, tailgating, or failure to yield.
Vision Problems
Often, drowsy drivers experience vision problems. Fatigue can cause a driver’s vision to become blurred. They may experience double-vision or sensitivity to bright lights. If a truck driver cannot see the road clearly, they can cause severe accidents.
Additionally, a fatigued driver may forget to check their blind-spots. They may also fail to account for reduced visibility during bad weather. When a truck driver cannot see well, they are less likely to avoid hazards.
Reduced Physical Coordination
Fatigue impacts physical coordination and fine motor skills. Even if a fatigued truck driver sees a hazard and judges the distance correctly, they may be physically unable to react in time. Fatigued drivers may also over-correct when steering to avoid a hazard.
Reduced physical coordination among fatigued truck drivers can contribute to rollover accidents, t-bone collisions, “jackknifing,” and multi-car pile-ups. It also leads to injuries.
Microsleeping
Finally, many fatigued drivers experience a dangerous phenomenon called microsleeping. Microsleeping occurs when a driver’s eyelids close involuntarily and they lose consciousness for a brief period. Usually, microsleeping only lasts for a few seconds before the driver “jerks awake.”
However, microsleeping can result in serious accidents. It only takes a moment for a large truck to drift into another lane and cause a crash. Often, fatigued drivers also become startled when they wake up from a microsleep. This causes them to overreact by braking suddenly or steering recklessly.
If you ever find yourself “nodding off” behind the wheel, pull over immediately. Rest until you feel fully awake. You could also take a short walk, splash water on your face, drink a caffeinated beverage, and drive with your windows down to feel more alert.
Fatigued Driver Truck Accident Injuries
Fatigued truck drivers can cause a variety of accidents. Depending on the circumstances of the collision, victims may experience a wide range of injuries. Some injuries may be relatively minor. Others may require surgery, physical rehabilitation, or even lifelong medical care. Many accident victims also suffer mental health problems, such as PTSD, which require extensive therapy.
Common fatigued truck driver accident injuries may include, but are not limited to:
- Cuts, burns, and bruises
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Damage to internal organs
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord injuries, including temporary or permanent paralysis
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
- Head injuries, including skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Facial injuries, including disfigurement
Many of the injuries associated with fatigued truck driver accidents require expensive medical care. Your hospital bills may be very high. However, you may be able to pursue a settlement from the truck driver or their employer.
Contact our Grapevine, TX law offices today at (469) 998-4069 to discuss your options. Consultation calls are always free. We will listen, answer your questions, and create a unique legal strategy to help you win the compensation you deserve. If we lose your case, you won’t pay for our services.
Don’t wait! Exercise your legal rights in a fatigued truck driver accident today.
