Asleep at the wheel accidents can be complex
Accidents caused by drivers asleep at the wheel tend to be very severe. This is because sleepy drivers don’t make any attempt to slow down, stop or react to avoid a crash. They can happen at full speed and result in devastating injuries to all parties involved.
In some cases, multiple vehicles can be involved in a crash with a drowsy driver. This can happen on busy highways when traffic slows down, or at busy intersections. Single vehicle accidents caused by drowsy driving can result in injuries to passengers, in which they may be entitled to compensation.
The causes of drowsy driving include, but are not limited to:
- Lack of sleep
- Working overnight shift or rotating shifts
- Drugs and alcohol
- Prescription medications that affect sleeping
- Driving between midnight and 6 AM
- Mid-afternoon driving
- Driving long distances without taking rest breaks
Common accidents caused by sleepy drivers include:
- Rear-end accidents
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone or intersection accidents
- Lane-departure accidents
- Accidents with stationary objects
Don’t handle your claim alone
Drowsy driving accidents can be very difficult to prove since there is often no way to measure if the driver fell asleep at the wheel, especially if the driver denies doing so. However, some clues can be ruled out. If no drugs or alcohol can be found in the driver’s system, then driving under the influence can be ruled out. If no cellphone records indicate that the driver was using a handheld device at the time of the accident, then distracted driving can be ruled out. These are all details that should be included in the police report.
In the event that you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a drowsy driver, you should talk to an experienced car accident attorney from our Sioux Falls legal team. Even if there was no doubt who caused your accident, insurance companies will often stop at nothing to reduce their own costs. That includes downplaying the extent of your injuries or denying your claim altogether. Don’t try to handle insurance companies without first consulting with an attorney at Northern Plains Justice, LLP.
Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how we can help you. You can also call our Sioux Fall office at 605-306-4100.
