Fatigued drivers pose a serious risk to everyone on the road, often leading to severe accidents. Statistics show that an average of 50,000 people are injured, and more than 800 people are killed as a result of accidents involving drowsy driving across the United States.
You are not alone if you’ve been injured in a crash caused by a driver too tired to drive safely. At Nelson Personal Injury, LLC, our Minneapolis car accident lawyers are here to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Why You Should Contact a Minneapolis Drowsy Driving Accident Lawyer
Drowsy driving is a serious issue that leads to countless accidents across Minneapolis and the country. Many drivers get behind the wheel without enough sleep, thinking they can handle the road.
Unfortunately, fatigue slows reaction times, reduces awareness of hazards, and affects overall attentiveness. If a fatigued driver caused your accident, a car crash lawyer in Minneapolis can help you hold them accountable and seek compensation for your injuries.
At Nelson Personal Injury, LLC, we understand how overwhelming it can be to deal with medical bills, lost income, and the emotional and physical impact of a car accident. Our Minneapolis auto collision lawyer will guide you through the legal process, standing by your side every step to ensure you get the support you need.
The Legal Definition of Fatigued Driving in Minnesota
Drowsy driving is a serious issue that often gets overlooked but can have dangerous consequences. The National Safety Council (NSC) explains that being tired can make it hard for a driver to react quickly, notice hazards, and stay focused on the road.
Studies show that driving after being awake for 20 hours affects a driver just as badly as driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08%—which is the legal limit for drunk driving in many places.
One of the challenges of handling drowsy driving cases is that proving a driver was too tired to drive safely isn’t as straightforward as proving they were intoxicated. Unlike drunk driving, which has clear legal limits for BAC, there’s no universally accepted measure of when a person is too tired to drive.
In Minnesota, while there isn’t a direct law for drowsy driving, a fatigued driving accident attorney in Minneapolis can still help prove that a driver was negligent by examining the circumstances of the crash and gathering evidence.
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What Happens to Your Body When You Don’t Get Enough Sleep
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all timeline for sleep deprivation, but the longer you go without sleep, the worse your symptoms get. Here’s a breakdown of how your body might react as you miss more and more sleep:
Stage 1: After 24 Hours
It’s not unusual to stay up for 24 hours, and while it may not cause serious health problems right away, you’ll probably feel pretty out of it. According to the CDC, being awake for 24 hours is like having a blood alcohol level of 0.10%, which is higher than the legal limit for driving.
At this stage, you might notice symptoms like:
- Feeling drowsy
- Irritability or anger
- More stressed than usual
- Trouble staying focused
- Brain fog and tiredness
- Trembling or shaky hands
- Poor coordination
- Increased risk of accidents
- Food cravings
- Puffy eyes and dark circles
Stage 2: After 36 Hours
Once you’ve been awake for 36 hours, your symptoms worsen, and you’ll likely have a strong urge to sleep. You might start having “microsleeps,” short bursts of sleep that last only a few seconds. These can happen without you even realizing it.
Your brain also starts struggling to function properly, leading to:
- Memory problems
- Trouble learning new things
- Behavioral changes
- Poor decision-making
- Difficulty understanding social cues
- Slower reaction times
- More mistakes
- Physical issues like increased hunger, inflammation, and a weakened immune system
Stage 3: After 48 Hours
After 48 hours without sleep, things get serious. Staying awake is incredibly hard, and you’ll have more frequent microsleeps. You might even start hallucinating, meaning you see, hear, or feel things that aren’t there.
Other effects can include:
- Feeling disconnected from yourself (depersonalization)
- Anxiety and stress
- Extreme tiredness
- Irritability
Stage 4: After 72 Hours
By the time you’ve been awake for 72 hours, the effects of sleep deprivation start to pile up. Microsleeps happen more often, and they last longer. You might experience severe changes in how you perceive the world, and your hallucinations may become more detailed and intense.
You could also have:
- Illusions (misinterpreting things around you)
- Delusions (believing things that aren’t true)
- Confused thinking
- Feeling disconnected from reality
Stage 5: After 96 Hours (or More)
After four days without sleep, you may have problems recognizing what is real, and the urge to sleep becomes overwhelming. At this point, you may experience sleep deprivation psychosis, where you lose touch with what’s real. In addition to the serious effects on your body, sleep deprivation can be extremely dangerous when you’re behind the wheel.
Factors that Can Lead to Fatigued Driving
In several situations, drivers may be more susceptible to fatigue, significantly increasing the risk for themselves and others on the road. Understanding these scenarios can help promote safer driving habits. Here are some common examples:
Long or Double Shifts
Drivers who have just completed lengthy work hours, particularly those who work double shifts, often experience heightened levels of fatigue. This tiredness can impair their reaction times and decision-making abilities, making them less alert and more prone to errors behind the wheel.
Late-Night Parties or Gatherings
Drivers who leave late-night events, such as parties or social gatherings, frequently find themselves exhausted and distracted. The combination of social fatigue and the late hour can significantly decrease their focus, raising the likelihood of accidents as they navigate the roads.
Long-Distance Driving
Engaging in long-distance travel can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, especially when drivers neglect to take regular breaks to rest and recharge. Prolonged periods without stretching or resting can compromise their attention and the ability to respond to sudden changes in traffic conditions.
Medication Use
The use of certain medications, whether over the counter or prescription, can induce drowsiness or impair cognitive function. Drivers who are under the influence of certain medications may struggle to stay awake and focused, which can have devastating consequences on the road.
If you find that any of these factors contributed to your accident, it’s crucial to seek legal advice. A car accident attorney in Minneapolis can assist in investigating the circumstances surrounding your case and gathering the necessary evidence to support your claim effectively.
The Role of Fatigue in Commercial Trucking Accidents
Fatigue is a well-known problem in the trucking industry, where drivers are often on tight schedules and required to cover long distances in short periods of time. Although the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented rules to combat this, known as hours of service (HOS) regulations, fatigue still plays a role in many truck accidents.
These rules require truck drivers to:
- Take a break of at least 30 minutes after driving for 8 consecutive hours.
- Spend at least 10 hours off duty after a shift of 14 hours.
- Extend their 14-hour driving window by up to 2 hours if they encounter adverse weather conditions.
If a truck driver violates these rules and causes an accident, it strengthens the case for negligence. A fatigued driving accident attorney in Minneapolis can help gather the necessary evidence, such as driver logs and HOS violations, to build a strong claim on your behalf.
The Claims Process
If you decide to pursue legal action against the driver who caused your accident, you’ll need the support of an experienced Minneapolis auto collision lawyer to guide you through the claims process. Here’s an overview of the typical steps involved:
Initial Consultation
The first step is to meet with a injury attorney in Minneapolis to discuss the details of your accident. During this meeting, you’ll share information about the crash, your injuries, and any evidence you’ve gathered. Your lawyer will assess the strength of your case and explain your legal options.
Gathering Evidence
Next, your lawyer will collect all the necessary evidence to support your claim. This might include police reports, medical records, witness statements, and camera footage. Expert witnesses may sometimes be called in to provide additional insight.
Filing the Lawsuit
Once the evidence has been collected, your lawyer will file a lawsuit. This officially starts the legal process and informs the other party that they are being sued for damages.
Discovery Process
In the discovery phase, both sides exchange relevant information through document requests and depositions. This step allows both parties to understand the facts of the case and prepare for possible negotiations or a trial.
Negotiation and Settlement
Most cases are settled before they reach the courtroom. Your car accident attorney in Minneapolis will work to negotiate a fair settlement that compensates you for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. However, the case will move to trial if a satisfactory agreement can’t be reached.
Trial
If your case goes to trial, both sides will present their arguments before a judge and jury. The court will then decide whether the defendant is responsible for your injuries and determine the amount of compensation to award.
Call us today at 320-216-7651 or contact us online using our free and secure submission form. We are available 24/7 to assist you and offer FREE initial consultations.
Why Choose Our Firm?
At Nelson Personal Injury, LLC, we believe every client deserves personalized care and attention for their case. We know that the claims process can be stressful, so we’re committed to keeping you informed every step of the way. We want you to understand not only what we are doing, but why we are doing it.
Our Minneapolis drowsy driving accident lawyers will take the time to answer your questions, explain your legal options, and fight for the compensation you need to move forward.
We take pride in our open communication with clients, so you’ll always know what’s happening with your case. You’ll even have access to our phone numbers, making it easy to reach us if you have any concerns or need an update.
Contact Our Minneapolis Auto Collision Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a fatigued driver, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. The Nelson Personal Injury, LLC team is here to help you navigate the legal process and secure the compensation you deserve.
Contact our fatigued driving accident attorney in Minneapolis today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and help you take the next steps toward recovery.