by Grayson Law | Jul 6, 2020 | Car, Truck & Motorcycle Accidents
There is no doubt that driving is a risky activity. Accidents occur everyday on Arizona roadways. You may pride yourself on being a good driver, though. You never drink and drive or use your cellphone while behind the wheel. You follow the speed limit and obey all road laws. You may be cautious and drive carefully to avoid ever ending up in a car accident.
Did you know, though, that not getting enough sleep the night before could put your morning commute at risk? Time explains that driving when drowsy is about as dangerous as driving when drunk.
A lack of sleep
Obviously, the amount of sleepiness you feel will determine your overall risk of an accident. To be comparable to a drunk driver, you would need to have less than five hours of sleep the night before. Even missing just one hour of sleep, though, could increase your risks.
You should get at least seven hours of sleep per night. If you do not, it impacts your body and brain. You function at a lower level, even if you can not recognize it yourself.
The big risk
While you may very well adjust to missing an hour or two of sleep per night and drive just fine, if you are sleeping only five hours in a 24-hour period, then you are at the biggest risk. You are not safe to get behind the wheel. It would be the same impairment level as being legally drunk.
Any sleep-deprived individual who gets behind the wheel has the potential to cause a serious or fatal accident. A drunk driver may at least try to slow down in response to an unexpected traffic situation. However, a driver who is asleep may drift into oncoming traffic or slam into the car ahead without ever hitting the brakes.
by Grayson Law | Jul 6, 2020 | Car, Truck & Motorcycle Accidents
The increase of urbanization has led more drivers on the roadways thus increasing the chance of an injury-related accident in Arizona. Certain times of days, months of the year and roadway conditions affect the number and frequency of accidents. These conditions also affect the amount resulting in fatalities and injuries.
The Arizona Department of Transportation issues an annual crash report. For 2018, there were 916 fatal crashes out of a total of 127,056 in the state. The month of October and Friday afternoons between 4PM – 5PM are the peak times for accidents. Fatal accidents tend to occur most often on Saturdays and between 8PM – 9PM. Speeding seems to be the most common reason for the accident to occur.
An injury caused from a driver speeding or drunk can cause problems for the victim years after the initial accident. With 28.73% of all accidents resulting in injuries, about 7% have suspected serious injuries. The number of injury crashes has gone down since the peak in 2016. With the highest urban population in the Phoenix area, there are naturally more crashes in the area.
The Population Reference Bureau says that worldwide the number of road traffic accidents has increased. Driver impairment including being tired, alcohol influenced, excess speeds, compromised visibility and drug influence can negatively affect the driver’s ability to avoid an accident.
The PRB site’s rapid population growth, poor road maintenance, poor road conditions and rapid motorization as key barriers to decreasing motor vehicle injuries and fatalities. Keeping drivers aware of what causes accidents can help decrease the number of motor-vehicle injuries.
by Grayson Law | Jul 6, 2020 | Car, Truck & Motorcycle Accidents
In the wake of a motor vehicle collision, there are a lot of different issues that people should be aware of, especially if they are contemplating the possibility of taking legal action. For example, it is imperative for victims to have a solid understanding of the various consequences that a crash may have brought into their lives, and some of these consequences (such as a brain injury) may not be immediately clear until some point in the future. Moreover, people should be aware of what they share regarding the accident and the challenges they are facing, especially when it comes to online activity.
Motor vehicle crash victims may feel compelled to share information online for multiple reasons. They may be looking for support from some of their friends, family members and even complete strangers. Although the internet can be a great tool when it comes to bringing people together and creating communities, it can also be very disruptive as a result of trolls and others who may want to bring someone down. For example, sharing certain details online could have a negative impact on a court case centered around a crash.
It is smart to avoid posting anything that could be used against you online, and you should also watch what you say around others (especially people who may support the person who caused the wreck). Information can be taken out of context and twisted, and certain posts have been used against victims in the courtroom before. Read through our website to learn more about motor vehicle crash consequences and legal options.
by Grayson Law | Jul 6, 2020 | Car, Truck & Motorcycle Accidents
Being in a car accident can have multiple consequences, and bodily injury and property damage are not the only ones. It is also common for victims of a crash to experience some level of psychological response.
According to Psychology Today, a common response to an accident is psychological shock. This does not happen to everyone, and those who are more prone to have anxiety are at higher risk. Some of the symptoms associated with this type of shock include
- A spike in adrenaline
- Fogginess
- Tightness in the chest
- Intense anger
- Disconnect or out-of-body feeling
- Feelings of physical sickness or nervousness
These are signs of the body’s fight-or-flight response, and it is best to take a moment to settle down before doing anything. The good news is psychological shock is temporary, and symptoms should dissipate within a few hours.
Long-term psychological effects from an accident
While shock wears off for accident victims, overpowering feelings do not always subside after an accident. This can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, and it is not uncommon. Certain people are at higher risk of PTSD. These include those who have another mental disorder, who have been a victim of a previous traumatic incident, who sustain an injury from the crash and who experience a lack of support following the accident.
The symptoms of PTSD can have long-lasting and serious consequences. Victims may have trouble adjusting to daily life, begin to use alcohol or drugs, have difficulty sleeping or have suicidal thoughts. Medication, therapy and behavior modification can help someone with PTSD return to living a normal life.
by Grayson Law | Jul 6, 2020 | Car, Truck & Motorcycle Accidents
Distracted driving is a growing problem. It has the potential to lead to catastrophic injuries for the responsible party and everyone else on the road.
Distracted driving led to the death of 3,166 people in 2017. If you or someone you know sustained injuries from an auto accident due to a distracted driver, it is crucial to know how to protect your legal rights.
Types of distracted driving
There are generally three types of distracted driving.
- Visual distractions and drivers take their eyes off the road
- Manual distractions and drivers remove their hands from the steering wheel or
- Cognitive distractions and the driver’s mind is elsewhere
Causes of distracted driving
There are several ways a driver may become distracted on the road. Texting or talking on the phone are prevalent issues, especially with younger drivers. For example, in 2017, 42 percent of high school students admitted to texting or emailing while driving. However, these are not the only causes. Other common distractions include feeling tired, eating, talking to a passenger, checking GPS or managing children.
Results of distracted driving
Distracted driving slows peoples’ reaction time on the road, and the repercussions can be devastating. Drivers may not only cause injury to themselves, but also injure or kill others on the road. After an injury from an accident with a distracted driver, you may have injuries, medical bills, car repair bills and an insurance premium increase.
Evidence for your case
Evidence is vital to support your claim for compensation. A police report can provide details on the cause of the accident, a distracted driving ticket and any information from witnesses. Also, any medical records related to injuries you sustain are useful for your case.
As a general rule of thumb, if you were taken from the scene in an ambulance, you or a loved one should contact an experienced personal injury attorney immediately.
