Driver fatigue is a serious hazard that poses a significant threat to the safety of those on the road. Driver fatigue often results from a lack of sleep or when a motorist travels on the road for several consecutive hours without rest. Fatigued driving can result in catastrophic accidents and injuries. If you have been injured in a car accident as a result of a fatigued driver, please read on and contact a trusted George’s County Car Accident Lawyer who can help you seek reasonable monetary compensation for your damages.
What is fatigued driving?
Oftentimes, fatigue is the result of not getting enough sleep. This type of exhaustion behind the wheel can result in serious accidents as motorists can be cognitively impaired by their lack of sleep. This type of unsafe driving behavior is considered impaired driving. Fatigued driving is often compared to driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is because they both severely hinder a motorist’s critical driving abilities needed to safely and properly operate a vehicle. Fatigued driving is extremely dangerous. According to statistics, annually, an estimated 6,400 people die in collisions caused by fatigued driving. This is because fatigued driving causes motorists to have reduced concentration, alertness, and awareness on the road. In addition, fatigued driving causes motorists to have slower reaction times. This means they are not able to react quickly enough to changing road conditions and hazards which often results in serious accidents. It is also difficult for motorists to make sound decisions when their cognition is impaired by feelings of fatigue. Ultimately, driver fatigue accounts for a large percentage of serious collisions and motorists should maintain healthy sleeping habits to prevent fatigued driving.
How to stay alert while behind the wheel?
To stay alert behind the wheel, motorists should maintain good sleeping habits as getting adequate sleep can help them focus on the primary task of driving. The body has a biological need for sleep and as motorists age, their need for sleep increases. If a motorist does not get at least 7 hours of quality sleep, they will be vulnerable to fatigued driving. In addition, motorists need to check the warning labels on their prescription medications as many drugs have the side effect of causing drowsiness. Drowsiness behind the wheel increases the likelihood of being involved in a collision. Furthermore, motorists often don’t realize they are fatigued until it’s too late because signs of fatigue can be difficult to identify. However, if motorists feel they are crossing roadway lines, drifting into other lanes, having trouble keeping their head up, having difficulty keeping their eyes open, experiencing frequent yawning, having difficulty maintaining their speed, or missing road signs or turns, they are most likely fatigued driving. If a motorist experiences any symptoms of fatigue they should get off the road to prevent serious accidents and injuries.
In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident due to fatigued driving, please don’t hesitate to contact our skilled and dedicated team members. Our firm is committed to helping our clients achieve favorable results.
