Drowsy Driving Car Accident Lawyer in Morristown, TN

Truck Driver Asleep At Wheel

Were you injured in a Morristown car accident caused by a drowsy driver? If so, you may be suffering from painful injuries, losing pay from work, and wondering how to get back on your feet. Fortunately, you may have the opportunity to hold the negligent driver accountable and recover money for your losses by filing an injury claim against them.

At The Terry Law Firm, our Morristown drowsy driving car accident attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience serving people who’ve been injured in collisions caused by negligence in our community. We have a proven track record of positive case results. Our team is committed to helping you seek justice if you’ve been injured.

Contact us today to learn more about your legal options in a free initial consultation.

What Is Drowsy Driving?

When a driver operates a motor vehicle while overly tired, sleepy, or fatigued, it’s commonly referred to as “drowsy driving.” Drowsy driving is a pervasive and significant problem in Tennessee and throughout the United States, leading to thousands of preventable crashes each year.

Many drowsy driving accidents involve drivers who have simply not had enough sleep. However, drivers can also become dangerously fatigued due to certain drugs, non-standard schedules, or untreated medical issues.

The following individuals are particularly susceptible to excessive fatigue and drowsy driving car accidents:

  • Younger drivers, particularly males under the age of 26
  • Parents of newborn children
  • Workers who have overnight or swing shifts
  • Commercial long-haul truck drivers
  • Travelers suffering from jet lag
  • Drivers who use medications that induce drowsiness
  • Drivers suffering from sleep disorders

What Are the Signs of Drowsy Driving?

If you are a passenger, it’s easier to spot the signs of a fatigued driver. It can be difficult, however, to determine the mental state of someone in another car, but the following warning signs could indicate that a driver is dangerously drowsy:

  • Nodding off – If you notice the driver’s head bobbing up and down, it could signify that they are starting to nod off behind the wheel.
  • Yawning or eye-rubbing – Frequent yawning, eye-rubbing, or blinking are also signs of drowsiness.
  • Drifting into other lanes – Drivers who drift into nearby lanes or hit rumble strips on the shoulder may be suffering from fatigue.
  • Missing exits – If you notice another driver swerving or making hard turns, it could be because drowsiness caused them to miss an exit.
  • Putting windows down or turning the radio up – Some drivers attempt to counteract their fatigue by blasting themselves with fresh air or loud music.
  • Responding slowly to hazards – If it looks like a driver is taking too long to react to debris, potholes, or other road hazards, they may be fatigued.

How Driving While Drowsy Causes Morristown Car Accidents

Falling asleep behind the wheel is obviously one of the most hazardous things you could do while driving, but drowsiness can impact your safe driving abilities even if you manage to stay awake. Extreme fatigue can contribute to car accidents because:

  • Drowsy drivers tend to be less attentive. Fatigue saps your focus, so it’s difficult for drowsy drivers to remain in complete and attentive control of their vehicles.
  • Fatigue slows drivers’ reaction times. Drowsy drivers do not react as quickly to stimuli, and a split-second is often the only difference between a near-miss and a catastrophic wreck.
  • Drowsiness impacts decision-making abilities. A tired brain is a slow brain, which means it can be difficult for drowsy drivers to make swift decisions in fast-moving traffic.

Compensation for Victims of Fatigued Driver Crashes

The purpose of a drowsy driving accident claim is to recover money for the personal and financial losses you suffered due to the crash. Depending on the circumstances, you could obtain compensation for:

  • Past and present medical expenses for the treatment of crash-related injuries
  • Lost wages and other compensation from missed time at work
  • Projected losses from medical care you will likely need in the future and estimated losses in your lifetime earning capacity
  • Pain, suffering, and lost quality of life
  • Repairing or replacing a damaged vehicle
  • Out-of-pocket costs for incidental expenses, such as the costs of traveling to and from medical appointments

Car Accidents

How Do I Pay for My Car Accident Injuries?

If you have been involved in a car wreck case, there are generally three (3) avenues for payment of medical expenses. 

  1. The first and most common method of payment is for persons who have been injured to pay for their medical care with their own health insurance. This does not create any problems and, in fact, most of the time this is what we recommend at The Terry Law Firm.
  2. Persons involved in car wreck cases can use something referred to as “med pay” to pay for some of their medical bills associated with their car wreck case. “Med pay” coverage is coverage afforded by your automobile insurance to pay for injuries sustained in the car wreck. 
  3. Occasionally, persons will be on the job working when they are injured in a car wreck. In these circumstances, sometimes it is best to use workers’ compensation to pay for your injuries sustained in a car wreck.  

If one of these methods is not available to you, contact The Terry Law Firm at our Morristown, Greeneville, or Sevierville office.

Will My Insurance Rates Go Up If I Use Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Under Tennessee law, insurance carriers cannot raise your insurance as a result of a person utilizing their uninsured motorist coverage. Tennessee law states explicitly that if you are in an accident that is no fault of your own, your insurance carrier cannot raise your insurance rates due to your use of uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage that you purchased.

How to Prevent Drowsy Driving Accidents

Every driver has a responsibility to ensure they are safe to drive before getting behind the wheel. You can do your part to keep yourself and others safe from drowsy driving accidents by:

  • Regularly getting a healthy amount of sleep and developing good sleep habits
  • Planning your trips ahead of time to make sure you have enough time to sleep
  • Waiting to drive or finding alternative transportation if you feel tired
  • Reviewing your medications to determine whether they may cause fatigue
  • Avoiding alcohol or drugs that could make you drowsy before you drive
  • Scheduling routine breaks for long trips, about once every 100 miles or two hours
  • Engaging in invigorating activities such as walking briskly when you take a break
  • Pulling over to drink caffeine or take a 15-20 minute power nap if you feel tired
  • Avoiding driving at night or in the afternoon when you are particularly sleepy

Drowsy Driving Statistics

The following drowsy driving accident statistics from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveal just how risky driver fatigue can be:

  • Drowsy driving contributes to an estimated 1.2 million crashes and 5,000 to 8,000 traffic fatalities each year.
  • One survey of American drivers showed nearly 1 in 3 drivers admitted to driving while too tired to keep their eyes open in the past month.
  • Another survey revealed approximately 1 in 25 drivers reported falling asleep behind the wheel at least once within the past 30 days.
  • Staying awake for just 18 hours is functionally equivalent to having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05 percent.
  • The cognitive effects of staying awake for 24 hours are the same as having a BAC of 0.10 percent, which is over the legal limit in all states.
  • Driver fatigue can magnify the dangerous cognitive effects of even relatively small amounts of alcohol.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Morristown for Help

When you need a drowsy driving car accident lawyer in Morristown, look no further than the trusted legal team at The Terry Law Firm. We stand ready to put our skills and resources to work for you to seek the full and fair compensation you’re owed.

Contact us today to discuss the details of your case in a free initial case review.