Your Trusted Personal Injury Lawyers in Waterford, CT
Car driver fatigue is a significant contributor to accidents in Connecticut. If you suffered injuries in an accident due to a fatigued driver—or you think fatigue might be the cause of your accident—there are some things you should know. One is that you may have a good case to recover compensation with the help of an experienced car accident lawyer.
Fatigue refers to weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion, or stress. Fatigue may occur when someone lacks proper sleep or has a condition that causes chronic fatigue. Conditions like narcolepsy may mimic the effects of fatigue, causing someone to fall asleep spontaneously.
Many factors might contribute to fatigue, including:
These factors may not cause fatigue in every case. They are, however, risk factors that may explain why someone feels fatigued.
Driver fatigue occurs when someone operates a motor vehicle while in a fatigued state. In many cases, a driver may be alert when they begin driving but may develop fatigue over time. Whether you’re tired when you get in the driver’s seat or become fatigued after a period of driving, your tiredness poses a danger to others.
Drowsy driving is dangerous because it can potentially lead a driver to crash and cause serious injuries or fatalities.
When someone is tired, they may:
There are few things as dangerous as someone closing their eyes while driving—even for a split-second too long.
You may often hear about driver fatigue regarding commercial truck drivers. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) limits truck drivers’ hours to avoid the dangers of fatigue. Car drivers may drive for long periods, too. Even if they’re not on the road for a significant stretch, a car driver may be drowsy for other reasons.
One in 25 drivers reported falling asleep in the past 30 days. This counts only the drivers who fell asleep—not necessarily those who were overly tired but managed to remain awake. We cannot know for certain how many accidents result from fatigued driving, as many drivers fail to report fatigue during an accident investigation.
A fatigued driver should pay for harm resulting from their fatigued state. Every motorist must observe their condition and act accordingly. If there is any doubt that someone can drive safely, they must refrain from driving.
When a driver recognizes that they are tired, they may:
The matter is straightforward: fatigued drivers must not keep driving while tired. If they continue to drive, they pose a great risk of causing an accident. They may be liable for any accident that they cause.
Drunk drivers are a unique case. Because their fatigue may be alcohol-related, evidence might include criminal convictions, or liability may extend to an establishment that served the driver alcohol. If the legal system deems the establishment negligent, then it may need to pay for a victim’s losses.
You might seek compensation if a fatigued driver caused your accident. An insurance claim or lawsuit may be two options for you.
Immediately:
A lawyer should handle the vast majority of your case.
Cases involving driver fatigue may pose several challenges. You will want to prove that the at-fault driver was fatigued, but doing so may require significant resources. A law firm should have those resources—and more.
You may hire a car accident law firm to:
A qualified firm will do everything necessary to complete your case. Proving driver fatigue may be difficult. An experienced and capable law firm won’t back down from the challenge.
Whether you’re facing an insurance claim or lawsuit whether it’s for a car accident, there is risk in handling your own case. You may be dealing with significant injuries. Should you add the stress of a case, those injuries may worsen. Your mental health may also suffer.
There is also the risk that you lose your case. Though a lawyer does not guarantee victory, they may have a record of victories. Their experience, legal training, and in-house resources may be a benefit to your case. If you want to ensure you receive full financial recovery for your accident-related losses, consider hiring a car accident attorney right away.
We are committed to provide personalized attention to each and every client’s case – no matter how large or small– because that is each client’s only case. We are proud of our firm’s reputation of combining integrity and compassion with an unflinching dedication to getting the right result. We will do what we say.
