To drive safely around a city like Sacramento, drivers must be alert and ready to adapt to changes in traffic. It can be difficult to drive safely when a motorist is drowsy or, worse, falls asleep at the wheel. However, the unfortunate reality is that one out of 25 drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel. Countless more acknowledge that they drive while exhausted.
Not surprisingly, drowsy driving is a leading cause of car accidents, injuries, and deaths across the nation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy driving contributes to about 100,000 traffic accidents every year, causing 71,000 injuries and hundreds of deaths.
If you’ve been injured in a drowsy driving accident in Sacramento, don’t hesitate to contact the fearless legal team at Singleton Schreiber. Someone else made the choice to get behind the wheel when it wasn’t safe. You shouldn’t have to struggle with the consequences. Our experienced Sacramento car accident lawyers can help you hold them accountable for their negligence and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
We’re local California trial lawyers backed by national resources and a billion-dollar track record of success. Set a time for a free consultation by calling our Sacramento law office today.
What is Drowsy Driving?
Drowsy driving refers to the operation of a motor vehicle when impaired by fatigue or sleepiness. Drowsiness can result from a pronounced lack of sleep or even the use of certain drugs or medications.
When a driver lacks adequate sleep, it can affect nearly every aspect of operating a vehicle safely.
Drivers who are fatigued might:
- Suffer from reduced reaction times
- Experience blurred vision
- Have difficulty concentrating
- Miscalculate braking time and distance
- Fall asleep while driving
Consequently, drowsy driving, or fatigued driving, is a very real threat to motorist safety. In fact, some research suggests that drowsy driving is just as dangerous, if not more so, than drunk driving. One study determined that being awake for 17 to 19 hours is the equivalent of having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05 percent.
Putting that in perspective, driving after being awake for 18 hours has the same effect as a 170-pound man having four beers in two hours’ time. Driving in either situation increases the likelihood of getting into or causing a crash.
How Can I Prove a Drowsy Driver Caused My Car Accident?
When you get behind the wheel of a car in Sacramento, you assume a responsibility to follow the law and behave in a manner that doesn’t put others at an increased risk of getting hurt. If a driver is drowsy, they breach this duty of care. When a drowsy driver causes a car accident, they can be considered negligent and, in turn, liable for resulting damage to property, personal injury, and/or wrongful death.
However, as the plaintiff in a personal injury case, you’ll carry the burden of proof. You’ll have to prove that the other driver was drowsy and that their fatigue caused your car accident.
Several pieces of evidence may prove beneficial:
- Testimony from witnesses who saw the driver yawn, swerve between lanes, drop their head repeatedly, or show other signs of fatigue
- Photographs or video footage showing the driver asleep at the wheel or engaging in any of these behaviors
- Depositions from the driver’s friends, employer, and/or family establishing the fact that they were awake for an extended period of time before the car accident
- Proof that the driver had drugs or alcohol in their system, which could enhance their drowsiness
- Reviewing driver logs and reports if your drowsy driving accident involved a truck or another commercial vehicle
If you can prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence, you can force the drowsy driver to take responsibility for the costs and suffering you’ve experienced since your drowsy driving accident in Sacramento.
What Types of Car Accidents Do Drowsy Drivers Cause?
Drivers who are fatigued or sleepy are more likely to cause:
- Head-on collisions if they have difficulty concentrating or fall asleep and drive on the wrong side of the road
- Rear-end collisions if they don’t judge the space between themselves and the vehicle in front of them properly
- T-Bone accidents if they run a red light or stop sign and blow through an intersection
- Rollovers if they don’t see a curve in the road and fail to slow down in time
All of these car accidents can cause vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and other victims to suffer serious, debilitating injuries, not limited to crushing injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, brain injuries, and severe burns.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney If I’m Injured in an Accident With a Drowsy Driver?
You didn’t get behind the wheel when it was unsafe. Someone else did. They chose to drive when they were too tired to navigate Sacramento’s roads safely, and now your life has changed forever because of it. They have to be held accountable, but proving that their drowsiness caused your Sacramento car accident can be difficult.
Fortunately, you don’t have to. You have the right to hire a personal injury attorney in Sacramento to take charge of your drowsy driving accident case.
You’ll be able to focus on your recovery while your attorney handles all aspects of litigation, including:
- Conducting a thorough independent investigation into your drowsy driving traffic accident
- Gather evidence to prove the other driver was fatigued and to demonstrate the full extent of your damages
- Interview and/or depose parties with relevant information about your case
- Hire experts to offer testimony in support of your legal claim for damages
- Help you make smart, informed decisions about your car accident claim
- Build a legal claim that forces the defense to make you a fair settlement offer or risk taking on our award-winning California trial attorneys in court
There’s a very limited time to file a claim after a drowsy driving car accident in Sacramento, CA. If you miss the two-year window, you’ll lose the right to hold the drowsy driver accountable for the consequences of their actions. It’s important to contact an experienced car accident attorney near you as soon as you can.
Singleton Schreiber is home to nationally acclaimed civil trial attorneys who’ve helped clients win billions in monetary awards. Our local lawyers offer personalized representation and have the full force of our law firm’s national resources to back your fight for compensation. Let us help you maximize your recovery.
We offer a free consultation. Contact our Sacramento law office to get started today.
