Kent Drowsy Driving Accident Lawyer
While it is not a crime in the state of Washington, drowsy driving can cause dangerous and even fatal accidents. Getting to your destination may feel like the most important thing at the moment. However, the safety of yourself and others should always come first. If you feel yourself drifting in and out of sleep while behind the wheel, pull over and seek a safe place to rest until you feel comfortable driving again.
Due to the inability of drowsy drivers to properly stop or take precautions, the lives of innocent drivers can be put in danger when they share the road with one. Drowsy driving often leads to breaking traffic laws, which can cause serious harm to those who are following them. If you or a loved one were injured due to a drowsy driver in Kent, the car accident attorney at Herschensohn Law can help you fight for financial compensation for your damages.
In the state of Washington, there is no law in place that specifically states that drowsy driving is illegal. Therefore, in the event that you are involved in an accident, it will be important for you and your Kent drowsy driving accident lawyer to figure out what law or laws were broken to cause the damages you suffered.
If an accident occurs where the other party is clearly at fault, then recovering compensation will not likely be dependent on proving that they were driving while drowsy. For example, if another driver rear-ends you, this action should already make them responsible for any damages that took place during the accident.
However, in accidents where fault is not as easy to prove, the key will be proving that fault belongs to the other driver, and therefore, they should be held responsible for your injuries. Once it has been determined that the other party was at fault, you can attempt to recover damages in the same manner that you would in any other car accident in Kent.
When it comes to recovering damages after a drowsy driving accident, there are numerous things that you can pursue compensation for, namely, both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are losses with a clear monetary value. For instance, if a drowsy driver crashed into your parked car and hit your mailbox on the way, these items both have a clear monetary value that can be recovered.
If you were involved in an accident with a drowsy driver and they caused you bodily harm, your medical expenses and lost income are also economic damages that can possibly be recovered. Injuries can also lead to non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
Other examples of non-economic damages include loss of enjoyment of life or mental anguish that arise as a result of the crash. These types of damages do not have a set monetary value associated with them but may still be recovered if they were caused by your accident. If you have questions about specific types of damages, discuss them with your lawyer.
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“Herschensohn Law worked by my side for almost four years when I was in an auto accident and were outstanding in everything they did! They went above and beyond to make my lawsuit as easy and stress free as possible for me while consistently showing genuine care for my wellbeing. They even recommended amazing health care professionals for my injuries! Anything/everything I may have been confused/concerned about was addressed/explained so I felt comfortable with each move made in my lawsuit. Professional, courteous and attentive are just a few words I would use to describe this law firm and although I hope to never be in a similar situation again - if I do, Herschensohn Law will be my first call!”
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Drowsy driving is sometimes difficult to prove because it is not as readily apparent as other traffic violations. Generally, drowsy driving leads to breaking other traffic laws, such as:
- Speeding
- Crossing into a lane illegally
- Disregarding a stop light or stop sign
- Ignoring a crosswalk
There are also instances where the drowsy driver does not break any laws, but their carelessness causes an accident, for example, when the driver does not brake quickly enough. Whatever the reason for an accident, you should not be held responsible for losses caused by someone else’s negligence.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 700 deaths caused by drowsy driving in 2020. Local statistics provided by the Washington State Injury and Violence Prevention Guide estimates that drowsy drivers contribute to about 3% of car crash fatalities. However, this number is likely underestimated because it is usually more difficult to identify a drowsy driver than other forms of risky driving behavior.
Whether returning home from a busy day of work or trying to finish a long road trip, drowsy driving comes in many forms. This dangerous driving habit causes serious accidents, injuries, and fatalities across the country, including here in Washington. Because of the unpredictability of drowsy drivers, many innocent people do not realize they are about to encounter one until it is too late.
To try to prevent these dangerous accidents, government agencies are working together to raise awareness of the dangers of drowsy driving and stop drowsy driving accidents from happening in the future.
Rumble Strips
The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) continues to improve road safety by installing rumble strips on roads and highways across the United States. Rumble strips help reduce off-road crashes and alert drowsy drivers by warning them when they are leaving their lane.
Medication Warnings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are also working to raise awareness of the dangerous effects that certain medications can have on drivers, including drowsiness. Knowing these effects can help prevent you from driving while drowsy, and therefore save lives.
“Zach will always take time and give you quality advice that you can trust. Highly recommended!”
Drowsy driving does not get as much attention as other dangerous driving habits (such as drunk driving and speeding), likely because it is harder to spot. However, drowsy driving is incredibly dangerous and can have severe consequences for the driver and anyone else around them.
If you were involved in an accident with a drowsy driver, Herschensohn Law may be able to help you recover damages. Our Kent car accident lawyer can work with you to calculate your losses and file a claim or lawsuit against the negligent party. When you are ready to receive the care you deserve, contact our team of personal injury attorneys today at (206) 588-4344, and let us get to work for you.
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