Driver fatigue is preventable, but it continues to be a contributing factor in thousands of car accidents each year. Sadly, fatigue-related car accidents cause devastating injuries and life-threatening conditions. If a drowsy driver caused your accident, you could be entitled to compensation for damages.
Proving liability for a drowsy driving accident can be difficult. At Bradford Law, we have over 15 years of experience representing accident victims in Mecklenburg County and throughout North Carolina. We have extensive experience with fatigue-related crashes.
Contact Bradford Law to schedule your free consultation with a Charlotte drowsy driving accident lawyer. You pay no attorneys’ fees until after we win your case.
Charlotte Car Accident Attorneys for Fatigue-Related Car Accidents in North Carolina
We are a local law firm. Our personal injury lawyer is familiar with local courts and defense firms. We go up against large insurance companies and win because we understand the tactics they use to avoid paying claims for driver fatigue accidents. We prepare your case as if we are going to trial, so we are ready to litigate your case in court if necessary.
When you hire our top-rated North Carolina car accident lawyer, you can trust that we will:
- Explain your rights and legal options to recover compensation for a drowsy driving crash
- Investigate the crash to gather evidence proving negligence and fault
- Document your damages and losses to assess how much your claim is worth
- Defend you against allegations of blame and contributory fault
- Prepare all documents and paperwork for insurance claims and lawsuits
- Negotiate settlements based on the value of your damages
- Take your case to court and argue the merits before a jury if a settlement is not in your best interest
You deserve to be compensated fairly when a fatigued driver causes you to be injured in a crash. Call Bradford Law today to request a free case evaluation from an experienced Charlotte drowsy driving accident lawyer.
Understanding Driver Fatigue and Drowsy Driving in North Carolina
Fatigued driving occurs when you operate a motor vehicle while showing signs of mental and/or physical tiredness. Driver fatigue is often caused by insufficient sleep. However, a driver may also become fatigued if they operate a vehicle for an extended period without adequate breaks and rest periods.
Warning signs of drowsy driving include, but are not limited to:
- Disconnected or wandering thoughts, including daydreaming
- Trouble keeping your head up while driving
- Having heavy eyelids or frequent blinking
- Drifting from your lane, running off the road, hitting a rumble strip, or tailgating
- Having difficulty focusing and concentrating while driving
- Trouble remembering the past few miles driven
- Rubbing your eyes and yawning
- Feeling irritable or restless
- Missing traffic signs, turns, or exits
People do not recognize the dangers of driving while fatigued. Over one-half of adults surveyed are unlikely to change plans or avoid driving without enough sleep. However, 8 in 10 adults will change plans or avoid driving after a few drinks. The problems begin during the teen years. One study revealed that a high number of teen drivers reported driving drowsy. Teen drivers admit drowsy driving is risky, but rate drugged, drunk, and distracted driving as more dangerous.
Unfortunately, fatigued driving can be just as dangerous and deadly as other forms of impaired driving.
How Driver Fatigue Causes Car Accidents in North Carolina
Fatigued driving is a public health issue. Drowsy driving crashes are blamed for causing an estimated 50,000 injuries and nearly 800 deaths in 2017. The statistics for drowsy driving accidents may be lower than the actual numbers because drivers refuse to admit they were fatigued or drowsy at the time of a crash.
However, drowsy driving is a form of impaired driving. Studies have shown that driving with only three to four hours of sleep is like drunk driving. A fatigued driver has a slower reaction time and exhibits poor decision-making, much like an intoxicated driver.
A fatigued driver’s attention and alertness are reduced, which can cause them to miss road signs, follow cars too closely, and run red lights. They have impaired judgment, which means they are less likely to make sound driving choices.
There are many causes of drowsy and fatigued driving, including:
- Working the night shift or swing shifts
- Being a long-haul truck driver
- Taking certain medications that cause drowsiness
- Having an untreated medical condition, such as narcolepsy or sleep apnea
- Driving for extended periods without breaks
- Working long hours and overtime
- Not getting enough sleep
Tricks to make you alert do not work. Therefore, drinking coffee/energy drinks, rolling down your windows, turning up the radio, and pinching yourself are unlikely to prevent a drowsy driving accident.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a North Carolina Drowsy Driving Accident?
If a driver causes an accident in North Carolina, they can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused by the accident. Typically, accident victims can recover economic and non-economic damages, including:
- The cost of medical treatment and rehabilitative therapies
- The loss of income, including wages, employment benefits, and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement, impairment, scarring, and disability
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life and quality of life
- Wrongful death damages for the family if the victim dies
Many factors affect the case value for a drowsy driving accident claim. The strength of your evidence, the extent of your injuries, and your potential liability for the crash can impact the settlement or jury verdict.
What Happens if the Insurance Company Denies Liability for My Claim?
Insurance companies aggressively fight accident claims to avoid liability. They use many tactics to deny and undervalue claims. For example, the company may accuse you of contributing to the cause of the crash or claim that your delay in seeking medical care caused your injuries to be worse than if you had sought treatment after the crash.
Our Charlotte drowsy driving accident attorneys prove negligence and liability by collecting evidence. We interview witnesses, gather physical evidence, and review data collected from vehicle data recorders. We may work with accident reconstructionists and other experts to prove a driver was at fault.
Out-of-State Visitors Injured in North Carolina Fatigue-Related Crashes
If you are injured while visiting North Carolina, it is crucial to work with a local attorney when filing an accident claim. At Bradford Law, we help out-of-state accident victims file claims seeking compensation for damages. Our legal team can take the stress out of filing an out-of-state accident claim.
Talk to a Charlotte Personal Injury Lawyer Today About a Drowsy Driving Accident Claim
Your time to file a car accident claim is limited by the North Carolina statute of limitations. Call Bradford Law today to schedule your free consultation with a Charlotte driver fatigue accident attorney. In addition to a free case evaluation, you do not owe attorneys’ fees unless we win your case.
