Why So Many Car Accident Injuries Are Caused By Drowsy Driving
Some drivers will make the mistake of operating a vehicle while exhausted. This can lead to a driver potentially losing control over their vehicle and crashing. If you have recently been involved in a car accident that does not make any sense, the driver might have hit you because they fell asleep behind the wheel.
Drowsy Driving is Very Common
Unfortunately, drowsy driving is a very common phenomenon and many drivers admit to having gotten behind the wheel while exhausted or even falling asleep behind the wheel. This is especially likely to occur late at night, particularly after midnight. A driver is more likely to fall asleep while they are alone in a vehicle and also while they are driving on a rural road.
The Driver Might Not Realize That They're Drowsy
A driver might not realize they're too tired until it's too late. They might be yawning and they may continuously rub their eyes. Their head might start drooping. Then, their driving might become much more erratic.
Drowsy Driving is a Form of Negligence
When a driver is unable to operate the vehicle safely because of their drowsiness, and they fall asleep behind the wheel, they will likely be considered liable for the accident. The only exception is if the driver can prove that you were also negligent when operating your vehicle.
However, the other driver might not admit that they fell asleep while driving. For this reason, you'll need to hire an experienced personal injury attorney who will be able to investigate why the accident occurred and will gather evidence to prove that the other party is at fault for the accident.
How Your Personal Injury Attorney Can Prove That the Driver Was Drowsy
Your personal injury attorney will interview witnesses and will look for other forms of evidence such as black box data or surveillance footage to support your version of the events. Your attorney will also likely work with a law firm that can investigate the scene of the accident and gather data that can show that the driver fell asleep behind the wheel.
For example, the expert witness might point out that there are no skid marks indicating that the driver did not press down on the brakes at the time of the accident. Once your personal injury attorney is able to prove that the other driver is at fault, it will be much easier to negotiate a settlement that will provide you full compensation for your injuries.
For more information, contact a personal injury lawyer near you.
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