Seattle Driver Fatigue Car Accident Lawyers

Call Caffee Law at (206) 312-0954 now for a FREE, no-obligation consultation with the best driver fatigue car accident attorneys that can help you get the compensation owed to you.

With all of the many responsibilities that the average American keeps up with, individuals may sometimes fall short on a full night’s rest. Even caffeine can’t reduce the dangers associated with fatigued driving.

As per the Centers for Disease Control Prevention an estimated 6,000 fatal car accidents occur each year because of driver fatigue. Despite these findings, a recent AAA-Foundation for Traffic Safety Study reveals that the number of accidents caused by driver fatigue is 8 to 10 times higher than the government had previously identified—which was 1 to 2 percent of all car accidents.

Commonly referred to as “drowsy driving,” this act of operating a vehicle without proper rest can inhibit a driver’s capacity to drive safely. If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident caused by a fatigued driver, consult an experienced Seattle car accident attorney at Caffee Law to help you get the compensation you need.

You do not have to suffer losses from a car accident caused by a fatigued driver alone. Call (206) 312-0954 now for the legal help you need to recover maximum compensation for your injuries.

Statistics For Accidents Caused By Driver Fatigue

A research study on the Prevalence of Drowsy-Driving Crashes: Estimates from a Large-Scale Naturalistic Driving Study reports the following facts on drowsy driving:

• Previous government findings had indicated that less than 2 percent of car accidents were the result of drowsy driving.
• Fatigued driving was discovered to play a role in roughly 8 percent of all car accidents that occured and 10 percent of those that resulted in property damage or injury.
• “These results suggest that driver drowsiness is a substantially larger problem than official government statistics indicat”

This report by the American Automobile Association’s Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA-FTS) sheds light on the fact that fatigued driving is more of an issue that the government predicted it to be.

Because of this growing problem, more and more traffic collisions are occurring, causing much property damage, injury, and death.

How Driver Fatigue Causes Collisions

Drowsy driving can make it harder for the driver to concentrate, causing complications in vision, delay your reaction time, and so on.

When drivers are fatigued, they may fail to see road obstructions, stalled vehicles, vehicles at a stop, or local fauna in their path. This may cause them to overreact by swerving to evade the obstacle, slamming down on the brakes to avoid hitting the obstacle, or rear-ending the obstruction altogether.

The lack of sleep can also affect a driver’s mood and driving style. Irritability and aggression can lead to tailgating, speeding, or other dangerous driving scenarios which can put others’ safety at risk.

Unfortunately, these all can culminate into a car accident where someone gets hurt. If you were involved in a car accident where the other drowsy driver collided into your car, our car accident attorneys have the experience you need to recover the compensation you deserve.

Driver Fatigue In Commercial Truck Accidents

Fatigued driving is not an uncommon danger for truck drivers. As per the Institute of Medicine, over 70 million American deal with sleeping disorders. Drivers that operate semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles may work unconventional shifts and can lack a proper sleeping schedule.

Other times, a driver may skip out on proper rest to make better time on his next destination. Due to the size of the vehicle, there are regulations on the amount of rest a commercial truck driver must get in order to operate a vehicle. Failure to do so can cause severe injuries and damages, and death is five times more likely if they collide with other passenger vehicles.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets regulations on time in which truck drivers are allowed to operate a truck within a 24 hour period. Truck drivers are allowed to work a 14-hour driving shift per day, of which only 11 hours may be worked actually driving the truck. The remaining time must be spent on other duties and breaks.

A 30-minute break is required by the eighth hour of their 11-hour driving shift. Drivers are held to these regulations to limit the chance of driver fatigue, which is even more dangerous behind the wheel of a vehicle that can weight as much as 80,000 pounds.

Even with government regulation, these types of accidents can—and do—still happen, and if your vehicle was involved in a truck accident where the driver was fatigued, the driver fatigue truck accident lawyers of Caffee Law can help you fight for your deserved recovery.

Injuries Suffered In Accidents With Fatigued Truck Drivers

The dangers of colliding with a commercial vehicle are much higher given the weight and size comparison along with the possibility of carrying hazardous materials or other dangerous loads. Death is highly possible if a passenger vehicle is hit by a fatigued commercial truck driver.

Common injuries suffered in large truck crashes can include:

• Cuts and lacerations
• Burn injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Whiplash
• Broken glass injury
• Amputation
• Spinal cord damage
• Traumatic brain injury

It is estimated that over 80 million sleep-deprived individuals get behind the wheel each day in America. Many of these individuals are likely drivers of the commercial vehicles we see and pass on the road each day.

Whether the company is demanding extended work hours from the driver, or the driver who fails to follow rest procedures, these negligent parties may be held accountable for the injuries sustained by victims of fatigued driving accidents.

Contact the best fatigued driver accident attorneys of  Caffee Law at (206) 312-0954, and tell us your story. You may qualify for compensation if your accident was caused by negligence.

How the Driver Fatigue Car Accident Attorneys of Caffee Law Can Serve You

Whether you are hit by a commercial truck or a passenger car operated by a fatigued driver, there is a possibility of severe injury and death in both scenarios. Any driver who drives in a fatigued state is not only placing his or her life in jeopardy, but other drivers’ lives as well.

Individuals who fall victim to the negligence of fatigued driving deserve to be compensated for any injuries sustained or property damage incurred. Car accidents can be very traumatizing experiences, and something as preventable as drowsy driving should not be taken lightly.

The experienced driver fatigue car accident attorneys of Caffee Law are your best option for recovering the following applicable damages resulting from a fatigued driving accident:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of wages and Loss of earning capacity
• Disability
• Long-term injury
• Property damage
• Punitive damages

With our solid legal experience, resources, professional relationships, and strategy, our attorneys are well versed in retrieving the compensation our clients need.

Keeping Yourself Safe From Driver Fatigue

All drivers must maintain a “duty of care” in operating their vehicles by obeying the rules of the road while ensuring the safety of other drivers. Driving while fatigued is considered an act of negligence, as drivers who are not rested may be inattentive, lack focus, and may even fall asleep at the wheel. All of these factors can cause injury and death to themselves and other drivers.

If you are experiencing the following symptoms prior to driving, you may be too fatigued to operate the vehicle safely:

• Frequent yawning
• Difficulty keeping your eyes open, constant blinking
• Wandering thoughts
• Difficulty concentrating
• Vague memory of the past few minutes or miles spent driving
• Steering out of your lane or traveling onto the shoulder
• Lack of a night’s rest (6-8 hrs per 24 hrs)
• Falling asleep while driving

It is the responsibility of individuals who are too fatigued to drive to take alternative measures to arrive to their destination. Consider the alternatives before getting behind the wheel when you are overly tired:

• Take a short nap to rejuvenate your senses.
• Advise others that you are getting rest and may arrive late to your destination.
• Schedule breaks to rest and stretch if driving for more than a couple hours.
• Fuel your body with foods and drinks that give your energy.
• Warm up with some light cardio before long drives.
• Do not consume alcohol before operating a vehicle.
• Get a ride from a close friend or family member.
• Relax and get a lift from a ridesharing app.

Getting a full night’s rest doesn’t just keep you safe, it can keep others on the road safe as well.

Caffee Law, Seattle Driver Fatigue Accident Lawyers at Your Service.

From the humble beginnings of our firm, we have been dedicated to provide top-notch legal representation that earns our clients the restitution that is owed to them, and we intend to continue down this path for a very long time.