How Can Fatigue Affect Driving, and Why Should You Care?

 Posted on August 05,2024 in Fatigued Driver

Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle has a legal duty to use reasonable care to avoid causing injury accidents. You probably know that things like speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving often lead to collisions, but did you know that excessive fatigue can also result in crashes?

Fatigue can cause impairments that increase the risk of causing an accident. If a fatigued driver causes a truck accident, car crash, or other kind of motor vehicle accident that injures you, you may be entitled to compensation. Working with our skilled Lake County, IL personal injury lawyers can increase your chances of a favorable outcome.

Why Is Fatigued Driving Dangerous?

Everyone gets tired after a long day, but being tired is different from being fatigued. Fatigue is a deeper level of exhaustion. Frequent causes of fatigue include:

• Long, monotonous trips

• Working a nighttime shift

• Being awake for too many hours without sleep

• Several consecutive days with little sleep

• Interrupted sleep

Whatever the cause, fatigue can affect drivers in similar ways as if they are drunk. Both fatigued and drunk drivers are more likely to cause motor vehicle accidents that can injure others. Some of the impairments that fatigue can cause are:

• Poor judgment

• Lack of coordination

• Difficulty concentrating

• Blurred vision and impaired depth perception

• Delayed reactions

Studies have shown that the effects of being awake for around 18 hours are similar to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 percent, with the effects of a full 24 hours without sleep increasing to a BAC equivalent of 0.1 percent. The legal BAC limit in Illinois is 0.8 percent or more, but drivers can show signs of impairment with a lower BAC. Unfortunately, some drivers who would not consider driving after a few drinks still operate their vehicles when fatigued.

Why Should You Care About Another Driver’s Fatigue?

Driving while drunk or fatigued is negligent behavior. If a driver’s fatigue contributes to causing an accident that injures you, that negligence can be used as evidence to support your claim for compensation.

Negligence is the basis for most personal injury cases. In legal matters, negligence is not acting like another reasonable person would in the same situation. Most reasonable people would not drive with the impairments caused by fatigue affecting them.

If your case qualifies, you may be able to obtain compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other eligible damages. However, liable insurance companies often treat injured victims unfairly. Your fatigued driving lawyer from Salvi & Maher, LLP will insist on fair treatment and fight to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Waukegan, IL Personal Injury Lawyers for Your Free Case Review

With more than 85 years of combined experience, Salvi & Maher, LLP has the skills and knowledge needed to handle your case effectively. Our four offices serve injured victims in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin, and we have English, Korean, and Spanish speakers for your convenience. Call 847-662-3303 to schedule your free consultation with an award-winning Lake County, IL personal injury attorney today. You will not pay any fees unless we collect a settlement for you.