There are many different risks on the road and reasons why car accidents happen. Many of them are quite well known. People understand the risk of distracted driving or drunk driving, for example.
One issue that can fly under the radar, however, is that of drowsy driving. Many people have felt tired behind the wheel, but they tend not to take this as seriously as other issues, and they may continue driving even when they feel close to nodding off. But this is very dangerous and could cause a serious car accident.
How drowsy driving affects safety
In many ways, drowsy driving has the same impact on the driver as being under the influence of alcohol. They have slower reaction times, they may lose focus on the road, they could overlook crucial details and much more.
In fact, someone who is severely exhausted could essentially be impaired, even though they haven’t been drinking. Some studies have found that staying awake for 24 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10%. That driver will still be heavily impaired by their own fatigue, and they will be far more likely to cause an accident.
Seeking financial compensation
This shows why it’s important for you to remember not to drive when you’re too tired to do so safely. Unfortunately, though, many other drivers may still make this mistake—especially if they’re commuting to work or doing other things that feel like necessities. If one of them causes an accident and you suffer injuries, then you need to know what legal steps you can take to seek financial compensation.