Chattanooga Driver Fatigue Car Accidents
Motor Vehicle Collision Attorneys Representing People Injured in Chattanooga
Around 20% of fatal road accidents involve driver fatigue, according to the Transport Accident Commission. Chattanooga has thousands of drivers traversing I-24 and I-75 each and every day, so even a handful of fatigued drivers on the road can significantly increase the already high risk of being involved in an auto accident. This potential danger exists because countless studies have shown that sleep deprivation can impair one’s cognitive and motor functions in a similar manner to that of alcohol. These driver fatigue car accidents can leave victims with permanent injuries – possibly leaving them unable to live independently for the rest of their lives. If you have been injured in a collision due to a fatigued driver, you should contact one of the Chattanooga car accident attorneys of Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz. With 30 attorneys and 120 staff members, we are the largest plaintiff’s personal injury law firm based in Tennessee. Our firm has recovered more than $1.5 billion in compensation on behalf of injured victims and their families.
Recovering Damages for Driver Fatigue Car Accidents
Working odd shifts at one’s job, staying up late studying, and irregular sleep patterns can all contribute to fatigue. A lot of these crashes are single-car accidents, such as when a fatigued driver hits a light pole or swerves into a ditch. However, it is just as possible for a fatigued driver to swerve into a lane of oncoming traffic and smash head-on into another vehicle, potentially resulting in a wrongful death. The injuries sustained from an accident of this nature can range from head trauma to partially severed limbs. Regardless of severity, if you have been injured in an accident, you should seek medical attention immediately following the collision. Many injured Chattanoogans seek medical treatment at Kindred Hospital Chattanooga, which is located at 709 Walnut Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402.
If your injuries are severe following an accident, the fatigued driver may try to blame you for the collision – which could possibly reduce your overall compensation based on your percentage of fault. Since Tennessee operates under modified comparative negligence, being found to be 50% or more at fault, however, will bar you from receiving any damages. An experienced car accident attorney in Chattanooga can defend you from comparative fault allegations. In addition, a lawyer can help you establish the negligence of the defendant for your claim by proving the fatigued driver had an obligation to exhibit reasonable care, failed to do so by getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while fatigued, and caused your injuries.
Depending on your injuries, you may be entitled to compensatory damages – possibly both economic and non-economic. Economic damages are to compensate for monetary losses such as medical bills, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. Non-economic damages attempt to quantify the intangible aspects such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, loss of consortium, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. If your injuries were the result of the defendant’s reckless behavior, you may be awarded punitive damages as well. Punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are meant to punish the defendant’s reckless behavior and deter them from similar behavior in the future – possibly even reform their behavior.
Hire a Skilled Car Accident Attorney in the Chattanooga Area
Fatigued drivers are best kept away from the wheel of a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, many people get in their cars despite being tired or not getting much sleep the night before. If you have been injured in a collision caused by a fatigued driver, you should call one of the Chattanooga lawyers of Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz today. Our firm has been fighting for people injured in auto accidents for over 30 years. We represent victims injured in driver fatigue car accidents throughout Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Arkansas, including in Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Caruthersville, Hayti, Oxford, Starkville, Grenada, Columbus, Tupelo, Meridian, Jackson, Little Rock, and Jonesboro. Call us at 800-529-4004 or complete our online form to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision lawyer. NST is the way to go.