Erie, Pennsylvania, Drowsy Driving Car Accident Lawyers

Erie, Pennsylvania, Driver Fatigue Car Accident Lawyers

Jed Dietrich, Esq. Has Spent His Entire Career Standing Up for The Victims of Negligence. The Dietrich Law Firm, P.C., Could Help You Secure the Compensation You Need to Begin Rebuilding Your Life After a Tragic and Unexpected Driver Fatigue Car Crash.

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were at least 91,000 reported car crashes involving fatigued motorists in a single recent year. However, independent researchers and insurance carriers believe that drowsy driving may be responsible for far more accidents—and fatalities—than previously thought.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. is committed to providing unparalleled personal injury service. If you, or a loved one, have been injured in an Erie drowsy driving accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to significant compensation. Since 2005, we have helped our clients obtain more than $175 million in damages. We could help you, too. Please message us online or call us at 814-839-3939 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving accidents can happen anywhere and at any time. In one incident, a young female driver crashed while traveling on Route 89, north of Interstate 86 in Greenfield Township. When the Pennsylvania State Police responded to the scene, the motorist informed officers that she had not slept much and fell asleep at the wheel while sending a text message.

A growing body of evidence suggests that fatigued driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Studies have found that, on average, drivers who have spent 24 hours awake suffer from physical and perceptive impairments comparable to having a blood-alcohol content of 0.1%—well above the Pennsylvania state limit of 0.08%. This is because drowsiness, like intoxication, can slow motorists’ reaction times and impair their decision-making faculties.

The federal government recently identified drowsy driving as a critical road safety hazard. In an analysis of recent-year crashes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drowsy drivers were responsible for the following:

1. 91,0000 police-reported collisions;
2. 50,000 injuries; and
3. 800 deaths.

Unfortunately, and despite its obvious dangers, drowsy driving appears to be an incredibly common phenomenon. A recent report has uncovered these worrying statistics:

1. An estimated 50% of Americans have admitted to driving while drowsy in the past year;
2. About 20% of people have fallen asleep at the wheel in the last 12 months; and
3. Nearly 1 out of every 25 motorists said they have fallen asleep at the wheel in the past month.

Drowsy driving might be a common practice, but common practice is never an excuse for negligence. Under Pennsylvania state law, everyone on the road has a duty of care to their fellow motorists and a legal obligation to operate their vehicles in a reasonable and safe manner. When fatigued motorists abrogate their duty of care by driving when they are too tired to negotiate ordinary road conditions, they put themselves—and everyone around them—at risk.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has years of experience aggressively advocating for the rights of Erie residents injured by driver fatigue. Our highly experienced team of attorneys knows what it takes to build the compelling, evidence-based case needed to secure the compensation and justice you deserve. Please call Jed Dietrich, Esq., at 814-839-3939 to speak to a legal professional and schedule your no-cost consultation.

Potential Damages In An Erie, Pennsylvania, Driver Fatigue Claim

The aftermath of a serious Pennsylvania car accident can be devastating. Even with comprehensive, high-quality insurance policies, survivors often struggle to overcome the burdens of crushing medical debt and debilitating physical injuries. However, you do not have to accept financial hardship and insolvency. Under state law, accident victims can file a legal claim against the at-fault motorist who caused their injuries. Depending on the nature and circumstances of your accident, you could be entitled to damages including, but not limited to:

1. Present and predicted medical expenses;
2. Physical therapy costs;
3. Prescription medication co-pays;
4. Temporary or long-term assisted care;
5. Lost income from work;
6. Emotional pain and suffering;
7. Loss of enjoyment;
8. Disfigurement;
9. Disability; and
10. Wrongful death.

Pennsylvania does not currently cap the damages available to personal injury plaintiffs. However, before approving a settlement or awarding other compensation, the court may demand evidence indicating that the other motorist’s misconduct caused or contributed to the accident. An experienced Erie car accident injury attorney could help you collect the evidence needed to convince the insurance company and the court that driver fatigue caused or contributed to your accident.

If you have been injured in a serious driver fatigue accident in or around Erie County, you deserve better than an uncertain future. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you negotiate a fair recovery with the other motorist’s insurance company. If the adjuster is unwilling to negotiate in good faith, we could take them to court, arguing your case before a judge and a jury. Please send us a message online or call us at 814-839-3939 to speak to an attorney and discuss your options for legal relief.

Establishing Liability After A Driver Fatigue Car Crash

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you collect, analyze, and assess the evidence needed to prevail in your driver fatigue car accident injury claim. This evidence could include the following:

1. Physical evidence from the crash site, including photographs of the damage to your vehicle, pictures of your visible injuries, and any nearby traffic control signals;
2. Surveillance camera footage;
3. The other motorist’s cell phone records, employment history, and employment records, which could be used to show that they were too tired to safely operate a motor vehicle;
4. Eyewitness interviews, if a bystander or another driver noticed the at-fault motorist behaving erratically immediately before the accident; and
5. Information about the at-fault motorist’s prescription medications, if their side-effects include drowsiness or fatigue.

Filing a personal injury claim might seem intimidating, but it does not have to be difficult. When the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. accepts a new case, we do everything we can to ensure that our clients are afforded their best chance to ascertain justice. Please send us a message online or call us at 814-839-3939 to schedule your free consultation.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 814-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Erie, Pennsylvania. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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