Seattle Drowsy Driving Accident Attorneys
Call Us After Being Hit by a Drowsy Driver
Were you on the way home when you were hit by a negligent driver who stumbled out of their car half awake? Drowsy drivers cause countless accidents every year, but they don’t always get held liable for them. If you need to file a claim against a drowsy driver and their insurer, come to Kornfeld Law in Seattle first. We can use our impressive legal knowledge and Attorney Kornfeld’s firsthand experiences with being seriously injured by a negligent driver to build a powerful claim on your behalf.
Call (425) 657-5255 or contact us online to learn how to start your claim.
Is Drowsy Driving as Bad as Drunk Driving?
AAA conducted a survey on drowsy driving and found some harrowing statistics:
- More than 40% of drivers on our roads admit that they have fallen asleep or nodded off while driving.
- About 10% of drivers said they have driven when they were “so sleepy they had a hard time keeping their eyes open.”
- About 15% of fatal crashes each year involve at least one drowsy driver.
Most of us know better than to get behind the wheel after we’ve had several drinks but being a little sleepy may not trigger the same kind of red flags. You may think it’s okay to drive and that if you get tired, you’ll just pull over for some fresh air or stop for a cup of coffee. This expectation is unrealistic because driving while tired has similar effects as driving drunk, as numerous safety groups agree.
When you are exhausted behind the wheel, you are likely to experience:
- Slower reaction times
- Worsened focus
- Poor vehicular control
- Blurred or fuzzy vision
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after you’ve been awake 18 hours, you’re operating your vehicle as if you have a blood alcohol content of .05%. After 24 hours without sleep, you’re similar to blood alcohol of .10%, which is above the legal limit in every state. Mixing alcohol and drugs with exhaustion is even more dangerous, too.
How Can You Prove the Other Driver Was Drowsy?
Evidence of drowsiness is important to build your car accident claim, but it might not be easy to come by. Oftentimes, the statements from the drowsy driver are the most useful pieces of evidence. They might admit to first responders that they were feeling tired when the crash happened, or an EMT might note that they are showing physical signs of exhaustion.
With this in mind, it is crucial to get copies of official reports from any responders who help at the scene of your crash. If you don’t know how to get these copies, then you don’t need to worry as long as you have hired our team to represent you. Across the decades of our collective practice histories, we have become familiar with fire departments, law enforcement departments, and EMT stations and medical groups throughout Seattle. Let us do all the legwork of your case for you!
What Compensation is Available in a Drowsy Driving Accident?
The compensation that might be available to you could include compensatory damages like:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Vehicle damage
- Pain and suffering
You might also be eligible to receive punitive damages for further compensation. A court can approve punitive damages that are paid to the plaintiff as another way of punishing the defendant. Punitive damages are rare, but they are used most often when the defendant exhibited egregious, unforgivable negligence, which could include falling asleep while speeding down the highway, for example.
Start Your Case with Us – Call Now
Kornfeld Law and our Seattle drowsy driving accident lawyers are eager to help you seek a better tomorrow after being severely injured by a drowsy driver who reasonably should have stayed off the road entirely. Going head-to-head with insurance companies is what we do each day, so leave the tough parts of your claim in our hands. We can represent you as if we were representing ourselves.
Want to know more? Dial us at (425) 657-5255 today.