When you drive on any Nevada road, you probably notice other drivers doing things that are dangerous. This can include things like speeding, looking at a phone or following too closely. There are other things that may also be threatening your safety, and you may not always be able to see these types of dangers.
Fatigued driving is a serious problem, and many drivers are unaware of how risky this behavior truly is. It is impossible to tell by looking at a driver exactly how tired he or she is and whether he or she can safely operate a vehicle at the time. Additionally, many people are unaware of how tired they are or are unwilling to acknowledge their limitations when extremely fatigued.
What’s so bad about driving while tired?
Almost every driver has probably gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle while tired. There is a difference, however, in being a little sleepy on your drive to work in the morning and being tired to the point where you cannot hold your eyes open. The American Sleep Foundation suggests that as many as half of all drivers get behind the wheel while fatigued.
Like many others, you may not understand exactly what is so dangerous about dealing with fatigue. After all, it’s not as bad as drunk driving or distracted driving, right? Research indicates that fatigue is actually quite dangerous, and it contributes to many serious or fatal accidents. Some of the reasons why fatigue is dangerous include the following:
- A tired driver is less likely to be able to react in enough time to hazards in the road or stop in enough time to avoid a collision.
- If a person has not slept in 20 hours or longer, it is the equivalent of getting behind the wheel with a blood alcohol concentration of .08%.
- A person is three time more likely to cause a car accident if he or she is dealing with fatigue.
You may be a safe driver, and you may strive to avoid getting behind the wheel when you are fatigued. Unfortunately, other drivers may not do the same. You may find yourself the victim of the negligent or reckless actions of another driver, but you do not have to suffer through the aftermath alone.
If the accident that left you injured was the result of a fatigued driver, you may be able to claim compensation through a personal injury claim. The law allows you to move forward with a civil claim to hold liable parties accountable for their actions.