Getting Compensation for a Fatigued Driver Accident in Illinois

 Posted on August 21,2019 in Fatigued Driver

It is not covered enough in the media, but fatigued driving is a major problem in Illinois and across the United States. The number of accidents and fatalities caused by fatigued driving is alarming. A drowsy or sleepy driver is as dangerous on the road as one who is under the influence of drugs and other controlled substances.

Reasons for Fatigued Driving

Fatigued driving usually occurs when a driver has not had enough sleep, but it also can happen when the driver has untreated sleep disorders, is taking medication, has alcohol in his or her body, or has worked long hours at work. For anyone who has experienced this, it is not easy to know the exact moment sleep takes over and you find yourself gone, albeit momentarily. Others may not be as lucky as falling asleep at the wheel can result in serious, even fatal accidents.

According to experts, it is not just falling asleep which is dangerous, your ability to drive safely is affected even if you are merely sleepy. As a result of being drowsy, a driver is prone to succumb to all manner of undesirables such as:

• Inability to pay full attention on the road while driving;
• Slowed reaction if you have to stop or suddenly and quickly swerve to avoid a dangerous situation; and
• Overall inability to make good decisions while driving.

Fatigued Driving Snapshot

A recent study estimates that about one in 25 drivers over 18 years old reported having fallen asleep while driving within the last 30 days of the time the survey was conducted. For its part, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that drowsy drivers were responsible for approximately 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013. Experts believe this number is greatly underestimated and say the number of fatal crashes each year caused by drowsy driving is up to 6,000 deaths.

Lake County Injury Lawyer Can Help

If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident caused by a drowsy driver, contact Wheaton personal injury attorney to discuss your case. An experienced lawyer from our firm will advise you on the best way forward and how best to protect your rights and make sure you obtain maximum compensation for your injuries or loss. Schedule a free consultation to talk to one of our lawyers by calling 847-662-3303 to set up an appointment at one of our convenient offices in Libertyville, Wheaton, Waukegan, Chicago, and Richmond. At Salvi & Maher, L.L.C., we collect our fees only when you collect compensation.

Source:

https://www.cdc.gov/features/dsdrowsydriving/index.html