Syracuse, New York, Drowsy Driving Car Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is Committed to Providing Unparalleled Personal Injury Service. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured in a Serious Drowsy Driving Car Accident in Syracuse, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Assert Your Rights to a Fair Recovery.

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Drowsy driving is a startlingly common practice. Every day, exhausted commuters fight through heavy traffic on Interstate 81, relying on caffeine and sugar to shake off exhaustion on their way into Downtown Syracuse. Outside the city, semi-truck drivers and travelers far too often push their limits on the New York State Thruway, hoping sleep deprivation will help shave precious minutes off a long-distance journey.

Even though most motorists manage to keep their eyes open, fatigue can nonetheless take a noticeable toll on reflexes and awareness. In some extreme cases, tired drivers can make massive mistakes—drifting into other lanes, driving too fast for conditions, and failing to adhere to the most basic rules of the road. Accidents can happen quickly and with little warning, leaving victims without any time to take evasive action or avert injury.

Although no-fault insurance can help pay down medical costs and replace lost income, many survivors find themselves forced to make difficult decisions: between their physical health and financial well-being, between managing pain and providing for their families. Relief and recovery could seem distant, if not outright unobtainable.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes that nobody should be forced to pay the price for an accident that was not their fault. Since our founding in 2005, we have fought to ensure survivors are afforded every opportunity to secure the resources needed to retain hope and rebuild their lives. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to ascertain justice—and we have the results to prove it. Please message us online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a drowsy driving car crash lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

The Understated Dangers of Drowsy Driving

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowsiness makes driving dangerous for the following reasons:

1. Drowsy drivers pay less attention to the road;
2. Drowsy drivers suffer from impaired reaction times;
3. Drowsy drivers cannot always make the best decisions when time is of the essence.

Fatigue can, in many ways, appear to mirror the effects of intoxication. Some studies have even shown that motorists who take the wheel after going 20 or more hours without sleep are just as likely to be involved in an accident as drivers with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08%--the legal limit across the United States.

However, unlike drunk driving, taking the wheel while fatigued is a common practice that rarely leads to arrest or criminal conviction. A recent American Automobile Association survey found the following:

1. A full 96% of motorists said that fatigued driving is unacceptable; but
2. One out of every four polled adults admitted to having driven while they were “so sleep that [they] had a hard time keeping [their] eyes open” in the month preceding the survey; and
3. Nearly 50% of all Americans admit to having fallen asleep behind the wheel at least once in their lifetime.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, which has analyzed the impact of drowsy driving on road safety, notes that it is “not yet possible” to determine how many crashes are caused by fatigued motorists. Estimates vary, but different sources indicate that fatigue plays a role in, at minimum, tens of thousands of accidents annually.

Establishing Liability After a Drowsy Driving Car Accident

In New York, every motorist has a legal duty to operate their vehicle in accordance with state law and in a manner unlikely to harm others. If a driver violates this duty and causes an accident, they could be found liable for the costs of any resulting injuries.

A drowsy driver might be liable for an accident under any of the following circumstances:

1. The at-fault driver was fatigued;
2. The at-fault driver was diagnosed with a sleep disorder but failed to take prescription medication or abide by physician recommendations;
3. The at-fault driver was taking other prescription medication that they knew, or should have known, caused drowsiness;
4. The at-fault driver had consumed drugs; or
5. The at-fault driver was under the influence of alcohol.

However, establishing liability after a car crash is rarely easy. Even if a victim can tell that another motorist was visibly fatigued, their observation may not be reflected in a police report or investigative summary. In most cases, accident victims must be prepared to establish the following elements of every drowsy driving personal injury lawsuit:

1. Duty of Care: A duty of care is a legal obligation that requires an individual to obey the law and adhere to a reasonable standard of caution in operating a motor vehicle.
2. Breach of Duty: A driver breaches their duty of care if they violate the law or are otherwise negligent. If, for example, a motorist is fatigued to the point that they cannot keep their eyes open, they may have breached their duty of care by driving under conditions that a reasonable person would find dangerous.
3. Causation: Accident victims must be able to prove that the at-fault driver’s breach of duty caused their accident. This often requires compelling evidence, which can be difficult to obtain without conducting an intensive investigation.
4. Damages: New York’s courts can only award compensation if the at-fault motorist’s negligence resulted in serious physical injuries or other cognizable damages.

Establishing liability is sometimes straightforward, especially in claims where a preponderance of evidence favors the victim’s narrative. Unfortunately, in many cases, negligent motorists fail to admit they may have made a mistake. It is not uncommon for drowsy drivers to apologize at the crash site, only to make an about-face when confronted by an insurance adjuster or served summons.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you, or a loved one, collect the evidence needed to establish fault. Our experienced team of Syracuse car crash lawyers could investigate your accident, consulting collision reconstruction experts and subpoenaing the at-fault driver’s work history and communication history. Do not leave your recovery to chance: please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation.

Your Potential Damages in a Syracuse Personal Injury Lawsuit

Accident victims have a right to file a claim for compensation against the person, or party, who caused their injuries. Although every personal injury case differs in its details, many drowsy-driving lawsuits yield significant settlements for survivors.

Depending on the circumstances of your claim, you could be entitled to compensation for damages including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Your existing medical expenses;
2. Anticipated care costs;
3. Physical rehabilitation;
4. Mental health counseling;
5. Lost income from work;
6. Diminished earning potential;
7. Emotional pain and suffering;
8. Loss of enjoyment;
9. Disfigurement; and
10. Wrongful death.

While York does not limit compensation in most car accident claims, you must act fast: all drowsy driving lawsuits are subject to a statute of limitations. If you wait too long to speak to a lawyer, the statute of limitations could expire without warning—leaving the court with no choice but to dismiss your case.

You do not have to accept uncertainty in place of a fair settlement. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients in Syracuse and across the region secure more than $175 million in damages—money that they have used to pay off their medical debt, replace damaged vehicles, and reassert their independence. We could help you, too. Please call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a drowsy driving car accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your free consultation.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. 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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