20. Driver Fatigue.

When people drive while they are tired, drowsy or sleepy, this is commonly referred to as “driver fatigue” or drowsy driving. This is one of the top causes of car accidents, since drowsy drivers are unable to adequately perceive, react and respond to situations on the road.

Our firm’s car accident attorneys know that many people drive when they have not had enough sleep. Fatigued car drivers often have a difficult time perceiving and processing information. For instance, a driver may not recognize that he or she has drifted into the wrong lane until it is too late, and a serious car accident happens.

Symptoms Of Drowsy-Driving That Leads To Car Accidents

Driver fatigue can also lead to reduced attention to the road as well as slower reaction rates. In extreme cases, a driver may actually fall into microsleep and briefly lose consciousness on the road. Even a few seconds asleep on the road is the perfect formula for a wrongful death car accident or a wrongful death truck accident.

A number of symptoms that can suggest driver fatigue, such as the following:

Yawning
Tired eyes
Boredom
Inability to remember directions
Restlessness
Difficulty concentrating

Drivers who notice one or more of these symptoms starting should pull over to rest and, ideally, get out of the car and stretch. In more extreme cases of driver fatigue, however, the driver may need to pull over, take a nap and rest until the driver feels refreshed and ready to make the rest of the trip. Many major highways provide rest stops for this purpose, and it is important to pull all the way off the highway to rest to avoid automobile accidents with your parked car.

Tips For Avoiding Car Accidents Caused By Drowsy-Driving

As car accident lawyers, we believe it is very important for car drivers to learn auto accident prevention techniques against driver fatigue, for it may save tens of thousands of lives every year:

1. Do not drink and drive (DUI). One major cause of fatigue is alcohol consumption and drunk-driving. Alcohol is a depressant and could make it so a motorists does not even have to be legally drunk to fall asleep at the wheel and cause a car accident. One little drink is enough to induce drowsiness. So before setting off on a long trip, do not drink at all.

2. Get enough sleep the night before. Without seven to eight hours of sleep the night before a long car trip, a motorist is just waiting for fatigue to cause a car accident.

3. Try not to start a trip late in the day. It is best to start about an hour after waking up and getting prepared. This is the period of time when both your mind and your body are most alert.

4. If possible, carpool. Try not to ride alone because passengers can take turns driving and serve as conversation partners to keep you alert and awake. This is a great way to keep the car trip interesting and, at the same time, avoid an unnecessary car accident.

5. Avoid driving an automobile at night. The glare of lights on the dashboard and along highway roads during nighttime driving has been shown to induce hypnosis to some extent and therefore cause driver fatigue.

6. Keep the automobile’s environment stimulating. Turn the car’s temperature down and make it cold if necessary. Also, turn the automobile’s radio volume up, switching stations frequently and avoiding soft, slow music. Do not use the car’s cruise control. Try to make yourself feel involved when driving the automobile which is a great safety tip to avoid a terrible automobile accident.

7. Watch your body posture. Keep your seat back upright, and make sure the driver’s seat is forward enough to keep your legs from extending fully. Also, keep head up and eyes staring straight ahead.

8. Take breaks or switch car drivers at least every two hours. Stop at a gas station, rest stop or a fast food restaurant. Get out, stretch and walk around. Exercise fights fatigue. Keeping your body cramped in the same position for a long time induces sleep, and thus a possible car accident that could have been avoided with this simple safety tip. Also, stop for light meals and snacks. Eating too much could make you drowsy, but not eating would drain your energy.

9. Wear good sunglasses. Wearing sunglasses during the day keeps you from squinting, causing your eyes to get tired and want to close. However, never wear sunglasses when it becomes dark.

10. If all else fails, stop driving and pull over! If you cannot combat the fatigue, then do not try to stay awake. Safely pull off the road, and give in to fatigue. Sleep it off. It is better to be late than get in a terrible wrongful death car accident.

Call Our Lawyers If You’ve Been Injured From Car Accidents Caused By Drowsy-Driving

Our firm’s car accident lawyers understand the dangers of drowsy driving, and have handled numerous cases caused by driver fatigue. Remember the safety tips above so you can meet your relatives in one piece. Safe automobile driving requires the car driver’s full attention and focus. If your eyelids start feeling heavy, your next action may very likely be a life-or-death decision.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by drowsy-driving then call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer. Since 1992, our San Diego law office has been geared primarily towards auto accident claims. We know how the insurance companies work, so let our insider knowledge help you in your time of need.

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[caption id="attachment_21715" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photo Credit: The San Diego Union Tribune"][/caption] Last week, we reported on a car accident in San Diego that resulted out of alleged teen street racing. In new developments, the 18-year-old driver charged with the death of the two teenagers involved in the street racing has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter among four other charges according to reports at the San Diego Union Tribune. The news follows the earlier arrest of another 16-year-old driver that was taken into custody on similar charges. Just shortly after his arraignment, Michael Johnson, the 18-year-old driver of a Volvo S40, said, according to his attorney, that he is not the responsible party in the tragic San Diego accident fatalities that occurred April 4. Accident reports indicate that Johnson was returning from a spring break beach party in La Jolla when he was allegedly involved in a street racing contest with another teen driver – the unidentified 16-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Passat whose name has not been released since he is a minor. According to Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, the two vehicles were zigzagging across lanes at speeds reaching up to a staggering 100 m.p.h. The 16-year-old driver in the Passat lost control over the vehicle, causing the car to flip over several times across multiple lanes of the road. Two passengers, Anthony Foreman, 18, and Jayli Campbell, 16, were thrown from the Passat and died at the scene of the accident. Two passengers survived the crash. Charlotte McQuillen, survived the accident although she suffered serious injury as a result of the collision including reports that say the teen will have to recover from traumatic brain injury. Anthoney Taylor, 16, also survived the crash although his injuries are unclear at this time. Johnson did not flee the scene of the accident according to police reports and cooperated with authorities once officers assessed the scene of the collision. The teen has no prior criminal record, although authorities say his vehicle was found containing a small amount of marijuana. Johnson is being charged with intoxicated driving, although his lawyer says there were no field sobriety tests to confirm the teen’s alleged intoxication. Teen driving: reminders for concerned parents Last week, we blogged on actions parents can take to prevent teen car accidents. Tips include:

Sign a parent-teen contract. Download your free contract now.
Enforcing the rules. Every teen driver needs to know that rules are there for a purpose, and when they are broken, consequences will follow.
Have a DUI backup plan. As most parents can attest, there are many instances when teen drivers run into problems that supersede their know-how and maturity. Drinking is one of those problems. In cases of emergency, your teen should have an open-door policy where they feel safe to call you when they need help – such in the case of drunk driving or driving while intoxicated.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC are specialists in car accident injury. Every personal injury attorney in our San Diego office works hard to seek maximum recovery for every injured client. Your case is handled without any out-of-pocket costs, so do not hesitate to speak to a San Diego personal injury lawyer today for a free legal evaluation. Call us at 1-800-655-6585.