Fatigued and Asleep at the Wheel Accidents in Jacksonville
A law firm that will fight for you
Fatigued driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in the greater Jacksonville area. It could result from working late or off-shifts, long-distance trips or simply not getting an adequate amount of sleep. Fatigued driving is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, resulting in numerous injuries and fatalities yearly.
Fatigue can manifest in many ways:
- Slowed reaction time and impaired judgment: Fatigued drivers may lose their ability to react to obstacles in the road, slow down, stop, or swerve to avoid an accident.
- Loss of coordination: Tired driving can often inhibit a motorist's ability to perform standard functions such as steering and coordinating the gas pedal and brakes.
- Impaired memory: Even a split second of nodding off can affect a driver's short-term memory. In turn, a fatigued driver may lose sight of the task at hand, which is driving safely.
That's why in the event of an accident caused by a fatigued driver, you need the help of an experienced auto accident attorney. Pajcic & Pajcic has decades of experience handling fatigued and asleep at the wheel accidents in Jacksonville, and we have the results to prove it, including a $1.4 million recovery from a trucker who fell asleep at the wheel. Contact us today and find out how we can help you.
Accidents caused by fatigued drivers can be devastating
It happens far too often. The driver of a car, truck, bus or taxi falls asleep at the wheel. Or a drunk driver falls asleep. A crash can happen within seconds.
Accidents caused by fatigued and asleep at the wheel drivers can be especially dangerous since they often occur at full speed. A fatigued driver may fail to stop at an intersection, slow down during heavy traffic, or fail to stay in his or her lane. This can result in:
- Lane departure accidents: Fatigued driving can often cause a motorist to veer out of his or her lane, sideswipe another vehicle or drive off the road. This can put other motorists and pedestrians at risk of sustaining a severe and life-threatening injury.
- Rear-end collisions: A sleepy driver may not be able to react in time when approaching a traffic stop. These accidents can often be severe since they tend to happen at full speed.
- Head-on collisions: All it takes is a split second of nodding off for a driver to veer out of his or her lane and into oncoming traffic. While head-on collisions are rare, they can be the most devastating accidents.
- T-bone accidents: Drivers who fall asleep at the wheel are at risk of running a traffic light or stop sign and broadsiding another vehicle. At full speed, these accidents can fatal.
- Pedestrian accidents: Motorists aren't the only ones at risk of accidents caused by fatigue driving. Pedestrians could be struck while crossing the street, walking on a sidewalk, or walking along the side of a road.
- Accidents with stationary objects: Fatigued drivers also run the risk of crashing into parked cars, telephone poles, trees, buildings and other stationary objects.
Why you should consult with an attorney
You were hit by a truck driver who was asleep, involved in a head-on accident with a driver who was asleep, or rear-ended by a driver who was asleep. The crash was not your fault. So recovering compensation should be a straightforward process, right? Unfortunately, it’s more complicated than that.
Proving that a driver was asleep at the wheel can be difficult, unless he or she admits to it after an accident. But some clues can determine if fatigued driving was a factor in your auto accident. Police will often look for tire marks, or the lack thereof, in the road leading to the accident. Additionally, cell phone activity at the time of the crash can help establish what a driver was doing at the time. Contradictions in the driver's statements might indicate that he or she doesn't remember what happened.