Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have transformed the passenger transportation business in many areas of the world. In most accidents involving rideshare vehicles, passengers are covered by Uber’s or Lyft’s insurance policy, but “being covered” may not be enough.

Lyft and Uber offer a number of amenities to consumers, and a ride with Lyft or Uber typically costs less than a cab ride. Some customers, however, have not considered the liability and insurance issues that can emerge when a rideshare vehicle is involved in a traffic accident which is why you should speak to a Bronx personal injury lawyer.

WHAT SHOULD LYFT AND UBER PASSENGERS KNOW?

Here in New York City, Lyft and Uber are popular and convenient consumer services, but if you’re injured in an accident involving Lyft or Uber, the legal complications may be vast. When you use any rideshare service, you need to know the answers to these questions:

1. Exactly what is the insurance coverage, and exactly how does it work?
2. What legal rights do you have if you are injured?
3. When an Uber or Lyft driver causes an injury, is the company liable, or just the driver?

After a traffic collision with injuries in New York, an injured victim of negligence is entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other accident-related damages. But precisely how does personal injury law apply when a crash involves rideshare vehicles and drivers?

HOW UBER’S INSURANCE WORKS

Liability coverage with Uber and Lyft differs depending on whether the driver is not in service, in-service but without a passenger, en route to a passenger, or en route with a passenger. A New York passenger who’s injured riding in an Uber vehicle is covered by a one-million-dollar liability policy as well as a one-million-dollar uninsured/underinsured motorist policy.

And no matter who was negligent and caused an accident, when a rideshare vehicle carries a fare-paying passenger, the injured pedestrians, passengers, and anyone else injured in another vehicle is “covered” by Uber’s liability policy.

WHAT IF A RIDESHARE DRIVER ISN’T WORKING WHEN A CRASH HAPPENS?

So if a passenger is in the vehicle, a million dollars in coverage applies, but if the driver is not working, has no passenger, and crashes into you or your vehicle, the only coverage available will be whatever is provided by that driver’s personal auto insurance policy.

In these cases, an injury claim may be pursued against a negligent driver with a good attorney’s help, but if an Uber or Lyft driver was not on duty and carried no passengers, the accident will be handled like any accident between two private motorists in private vehicles.

Finally, what if an Uber driver is “on duty” but without a passenger? If an Uber driver is without a passenger but is working and has Uber’s app open, and if an accident happens, Uber offers to beef up that driver’s personal auto insurance with additional liability coverage of $100,000.

WHY “BEING COVERED” MAY NOT BE ENOUGH

But again, being “covered” may not be enough, and obtaining compensation may be a challenge. Companies that insure rideshare drivers are like every other auto insurance company. An auto insurance company may try to deny your injury claim or to pay you less than the claim is worth.

For example, if you are injured in a collision, an auto insurance company may offer you a quick settlement. Don’t take it. Quick settlement offers will be low offers.

The right lawyer can almost undoubtedly win a more reasonable settlement amount for you. If you accept an immediate settlement offer, you forfeit any right to additional compensation in the future and any right to take further legal action.

AFTER AN UBER OR LYFT CRASH, WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?

If you are injured in a collision that involves Lyft or Uber, summon medical assistance and call the police at once. Get details from the other driver or drivers – names and personal contact information along with contact information for the automobile insurance company or companies.

Take plenty of photos of the vehicle damages, the general crash site, and your own visible injuries. If witnesses saw the accident, ask them for their personal contact details. Your attorney may need their statements or testimony.

Have a medical exam within twenty-four hours of any traffic mishap. If you don’t, latent and undetected injuries may emerge as medical conditions days or even weeks after the initial injury. You will also need the medical paperwork an exam provides if you file an injury claim.

DON’T TALK TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY – THAT’S YOUR LAWYER’S JOB

If you are injured in an accident that involves Lyft or Uber, don’t make any statement, recorded or in writing, to an auto insurer, and do not sign anything before you have received advice from a Bronx personal injury lawyer who has experience with Lyft and Uber accident cases.

Here’s what you need to remember: If a careless rideshare driver injures you while that driver is working, you can pursue an injury claim against the rideshare company. If the driver was not working, your claim is against the driver – and his personal auto insurance – alone.

IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR TAKING LEGAL ACTION?

If you are hurt by any careless driver in New York State, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. But do not wait three years to seek an attorney’s help. You’ll need that help immediately.

If your injury keeps you out of work, your monthly obligations and accident-related medical bills will pile up fast. But how can you retain an attorney if you’re not able to work and the bills are mounting?

HOW DOES THE “CONTINGENT FEE” SYSTEM WORK FOR INJURY VICTIMS?

The answer is good news for the injured victims of negligence. The “contingent fee” system in New York State personal injury cases lets every victim of negligence – whether you’re affluent or your means are more modest – seek justice.

How does a contingent fee work?  You pay no attorney’s fee in a personal injury case unless and until you are compensated. A first legal consultation is also free with no obligation. An attorney will review the case and suggest the best way to proceed – which may be with an injury claim.

You’ve been reading a general overview of accidents involving rideshare companies, but every accident is different, and you’ll need personalized advice. If you have been hurt by negligence in any traffic crash, let a good injury attorney explain your rights and fight for your compensation.

The law is on your side

The amount of accidents that happen throughout the nation on a daily basis is terrifying. A lot of people end up being injured to one extent or another or even killed in many of those accidents, but what makes that even worse is the fact that a lot of those accidents could have been easily avoided if the people who caused them had not been negligent. When someone is injured because of the negligent actions of another, it can seriously affect that person’s life. Very often, the injuries that someone suffers from an accident or even medical malpractice can cause them pain for months or years and even prevent them from going back to work at all. 

This situation deeply affects the person’s finances because medical bills start to pile up since the person loses his or her income. If you suddenly find yourself in this situation, a personal injury attorney in Brooklyn, NY can help. Fortunately, there is hope because the law is on your side and states that you should be compensated for your pain, lost wages, medical bills, and other losses depending on your particular case. However, you have to make sure that you hire the right attorney because your compensation depends on how well that attorney can do his or her job. When you are the victim of another person or company’s negligent actions, you have rights that should be protected in court and it is up to the attorney whom you hire to do that. Choosing the wrong attorney can be a serious mistake that can cost you money that you and your family desperately need and deserve. But how do you choose the right attorney to represent you?

You need a competent personal injury attorney

The fact of the matter is that there is a lot at stake after you have suffered injuries from an accident or any other negligent action. The attorney whom you choose to hire has to fully understand everything about your case and how it affects you and your loved ones. When you start to look around for one, you have to read any pertinent information on the attorney’s website and anywhere else that you can find it to make sure that you are making a good choice and will feel confident about the attorney’s abilities in court. There is nothing more stressful than doubting that your personal injury attorney is not doing a good job because you won’t get a second chance to recover the damages that the law says are yours. If for any reason, you do believe that your attorney does not have your best interest in mind, you should search for another as soon as possible.

Evaluating how well your attorney is performing

Knowing how well your attorney is performing his or her job is imperative so that you feel that your case is being handled as it should be. With this in mind, you have to evaluate his or her performance. The first thing to remember about your relationship with your attorney is that you are the boss, but you should not appear to be confrontational when you are evaluating how your attorney is handling your case. 

One of the biggest complaints that people have after choosing an attorney is communication or the lack thereof. Your attorney should be willing and able to communicate with you and properly explain how your case is going and answer any questions that you happen to have. You could compare your attorney’s evaluation to the annual evaluation that you get at work as an employee. 

Perhaps one of the best ways to evaluate your personal injury attorney’s competence is to compare what he has actually accomplished at a certain point versus what he said would have accomplished at that point. However, keep in mind that legal proceedings do take time and there can always be unforeseen complications. Again, the best thing is communication. Without seeming confrontational, ask your attorney why your case is where it is and what else he or she can tell you about the situation. Your attorney should be able to explain exactly what is going on and what can be expected to happen in the near and far future from all parties involved in the case. 

You should be able to get a good understanding of your attorney’s competence and ethics as you communicate more and more with him or her and that will tell you a lot more than any comment on a website or rating can. If you run across an attorney who is unwilling or seemingly unable to communicate with you and pay attention to your concerns, it is probably time to move on and start considering someone else who will care about your rights and welfare.

Realistic expectations

One of the most important things that you have to understand is that a personal injury attorney is not a magician. He or she cannot just wave a magic wand and make everything fall into place. There is a process to follow with a personal injury case and all the steps must be properly observed.This takes time and patience. 

While honest communication is a must so that you fully understand everything that is happening, patience is also another component that is important to the equation. You have to know that every single personal injury case is different. There are various factors that influence how long a personal injury case will take and its outcome. There are times when the liable party’s insurance company realizes that it has to take a hit and does so like a champ! But there are other times when they seem to build a trench around themselves, dig in, and fight like hell, despite the evidence against them. 

There is just no telling how the insurance company will react and this varies from case to case depending on the evidence, the seriousness of the injuries, and other factors. You have to have realistic expectations when you decide to proceed with your personal injury case. Yes, you do deserve to be compensated and you will be, but that will take time. A good personal injury lawyer will go out of his or her way to help you at every stage of your case not only because it is the right thing to do but also because you will both benefit from a good outcome. However, remember that he or she cannot work magic. Go over the details of your specific case and try to understand it as much as you can to see what realistic expectations you should have.

Traumatic brain Injuries

There are countless accidents every single day where people end up with serious injuries that will impact the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, a lot of people who experience a car accident or other type of accident end up hitting their head and suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that changes the way that their brain functions. When someone experiences this, there is no telling how long the TBI will last since the severity can be quite mild or very severe. There are cases where a patient will recuperate from a TBI in just a few hours or days and others where the effects last for the rest of the person’s life. If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury because of the negligent actions of another person or entity you should contact a personal injury attorney in Brooklyn NY as soon as possible.

Mild traumatic brain injuries

You are probably familiar with the term “concussion” and know that a concussion happens to someone when they bump their head in an accident, but you probably don’t know that mild TBIs are often referred to as concussions. According to medical professionals, these concussions cause people’s mental status to change and can even cause them to lose consciousness for up to 30 minutes. 

There are known cases where a person who suffered such a concussion gets a score of 13 to 15 on the Glasgow coma scale. This is a neurological scale that medical professionals utilize in order to determine a patient’s state of consciousness. A person’s score on the Glasgow coma scale can range from 3 to 15. The score helps medical professionals to know how severe the brain injury is. Sometimes there are no obvious signs that the patient has suffered a head injury because even MRIs and CAT scans will fail to detect any damage.

People who have suffered a mild TBI can still experience various degrees of change with their sense of smell, sense of taste, anxiety, depression, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headaches, migraines, confusion, insomnia, memory loss, mood changes, and other symptoms. Any of these symptoms might not appear for a few days or even weeks after the accident, which is why a diagnosis might not be made until long after the person suffers a TBI.

Moderate Traumatic Brain Injuries

When a person suffers a moderate TBI, he or she will experience a lot of the same symptoms that are associated with mild TBIs. The main difference between the two is that moderate TBIs last for a longer period of time and can even get worse. When a person experiences head trauma that causes a moderate traumatic brain injury, that person can lose consciousness for as long as six hours and score from 9 to 12 on the Glasgow coma scale.

Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

More serious accidents can cause a person to experience a severe TBI that can lead to the loss of consciousness for more than 6 hours, making this a lot worse than the previous cases. Someone with a severe traumatic brain injury will score from 3 to 8 on the Glasgow Coma Scale, clearly indicating the severity of the person’s situation. 

How bad the TBI happens to be depends on various factors such as how severe the injury that caused it was, the person’s physiological functions that are affected, how completely the person can recover, and what recovery and rehabilitation options the person has at his or her disposal. One of the worst things about severe TBIs is that they can cause neurological damage that can lead to permanent loss of functions such as attention, comprehension, concentration, memory, speech, taste, vision, and others. 

People who have to deal with this situation can also suffer emotional and psychological trauma as a direct result. Common issues include aggression, depression, mood swings, and others that impact their lives in a negative way. A severe TBI can also lead to physical changes such as diminished or loss of bladder control, chronic pain, seizures, and others.

Recovering from a TBI

It is imperative that the person is properly diagnosed by a competent physician so that he or she can get adequate treatment. While mild traumatic brain injuries might be treated with just some rest and basic over the counter medication, the person should still be monitored for at least a few days to make sure that there are no worsening or new symptoms that can indicate a more severe TBI. 

A person who has suffered a mild traumatic brain injury will need a lot more time to recover, as well as prescription medication. This generally means a few weeks of inactivity and following a physician’s treatment plan. Of course, a severe traumatic brain injury is going to require a lot more time and rehabilitation for the person to recover from it, precisely how much depends on each specific case. There are various lines of thought that have been proposed in order to understand how a person’s brain recovers from a TBI.

·         Diaschisis

Diaschisis holds that recovery is, to a great extent, dependent on tissue health. Areas of the brain which were not injured influence areas that were so that they can heal.  

·         Replacement

Replacement holds that when a damaged area of the brain can no longer handle its normal functions as a result of a TBI, another area of the brain will begin to perform those functions, essentially taking over once it is needed. 

·         Redundancy

Redundancy is a lot like replacement. It is generally held that different areas of the brain are able to perform the same functions, so when one area of the brain fails as a result of a TBI another area of the brain continues to perform those functions.

Devastating effects

Both mild and moderate traumatic brain injuries can be dealt with in a relatively short amount of time without affecting a person’s life too much. However, when the TBI is severe it will take long-term care and treatment which can have a devastating effect on the injured person and his or her loved ones. Unfortunately, a traumatic brain injury can forever change a person’s life for the worse and affect his or her relationship with friends and family. 

Most people have a very difficult time dealing with such a situation because no one ever expects it and it makes life a lot more difficult for everyone involved. The financial burden is overwhelming and can tear families apart. This is one of the reasons why you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible if you or a family member has suffered a severe TBI. The law allows you to sue for compensation and your attorney will be able to advise you about the best way to go about it.

Police officers are regularly involved in intense and demanding physical and mental activities. Though they are trained for most of what the encounter, they are however not immune to mistakes. Policing jobs expose officers to a lot of unplanned scenarios that could come with devastating consequences for others. As a road user, you may sustain serious injuries as a result of an accident caused by police vehicles. This means you may eventually need the services of personal injury attorneys Bronx. 

Usually, when you’re injured by someone else, the first idea on your mind is to call the police. But who do you call if you were hit by the police?  Can you sue a police officer for hitting you while driving? 

As much as the law, especially civil law, is quite benevolent to police officers, it doesn’t mean they can get away with anything. In New York, if a police officer loses control of his car and hits you or your car, you are not entirely powerless. You can hold the New York police department liable for damages to your car or personal injuries you may sustain. Legally, you should be able to get a befitting compensation for damages and personal injuries, but that may all depend on who’s taking your case. 

DO YOU NEED A LAWYER FOR YOU CLAIM

You do not necessarily need a lawyer to get compensation for damages, but it is, however, necessary if you need the best result. Sure, the law is quite clear that you should be compensated, but nothing might actually happen if you aren’t taking the necessary legal steps to achieve that. The legal details of damage claims – in this case against law enforcement officers – could be quite complicated. Accidents involving police cars are not treated like regular car accidents; the claims process may be different and it may take a significantly longer time before your claim is reviewed. 

You might need the expertise of an attorney as well as the huge resources at their disposal to win a claim against law enforcement. The best thing to do after being involved in an accident with a police car is to call a car accident or personal injury lawyer. This specialist lawyers have what it takes to put pressure on the police department to review your case faster and pay a befitting compensation and in time. 

Doing a case such as this by yourself might mean you’ll be getting compensations which are way lower than what you would get with the help of a lawyer. 

However, you must act fast, failing to file a claim on time might mean you’re close to losing all rights to compensation. To protect the government from too many lawsuits, there’s a shorter window to file damage claims against government agencies like the police department. While you’ll typically get a longer time for damages to claim against other entities, you’ll have only 90 days to send in your notice of claims against the police. If everything is done properly, you’ll have a maximum of one year and 90 days to file a civil lawsuit against the police department.

From here on, lots of things come into play. Liability might depend on whether the police officer got involved in the accident while responding to an emergency or was driving negligently. Whether the officer was driving an authorized emergency vehicle or a private car. It also matters whether the police had lights and sirens on, so you should try to take note of these seemingly mundane details. When reviewing evidence to determine who’s at fault, these details may be weighted quite heavily. 

But importantly, when driving you are driving yourself, never admit fault when involved in an accident with a police officer. The urge to admit fault and say you’re sorry may become high once you realize you collided with a police officer. Your utterances at that point may hold a lot of weight, especially when the other party – a law enforcement officer – knows exactly how to use them against you. Even if the police officer might try to intimidate you, limit your words, try to say as little as possible. 

Of course, the police officer might try to put the blame on you. But legally, the police officer involved in the accident with you isn’t in the right place to decide whose fault it was. The issue of who’s at fault is left to the law court, so you’re not unnecessarily subjected to the officer’s lopsided judgments.  

WHAT HAPPENS IF A LOVED ONE IS KILLED BY A POLICE VEHICLE? 

There are times when things get a little too serious, leading to fatal injuries and death of victims. Cases involving death are considered more prudently and could be much more complex. Nonetheless, families of victims that died in a crash involving a police car can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the local police department. 

Damage claims in a wrongful death lawsuit could get as high as hundreds of thousands of dollars. The state, city or county could be liable to compensation for emotional distress caused by loss of a family member, wages the family member would have earned and a handful of others. 

CAN YOU GET PROPERLY COMPENSATED? 

In an emergency, police officers are allowed to drive in ways that aren’t particularly law abiding. In some situations, they are allowed to run red lights, pass speed limits, take wrong u-turns, violate the right of way and several other driving regulations. If you know a little about these legal exceptions for police officers, you’ll probably assume you won’t get compensated if the hit you while breaking these rules. 

As long as you aren’t the erring party, your chance of compensation is still high as long as you avail yourself of the services of a good lawyer. As a precaution, you should still get a lawyer even if you think you are the erring party. 

The prospect of being involved in an auto accident is worrisome enough, being involved in one with the police could even be more devastating. A police officer is an authority figure so it’s not entirely unusual to feel a little intimidated. However, keep in mind that, a car accident involving a police officer – especially an erring one – is still an automobile accident and you still have quite as much rights as you would when involving ordinary people. Don’t hesitate in any way to seek compensation if you or a loved one has been injured by a police car. It’s simply common sense – no one is above the law. 

If you or someone you know has sustained injuries from a boating accident, you may be wondering whether it is possible to get some compensation for damages. You may also be wondering how to go about filing your claims if getting compensation is possible. Fortunately for everyone, with the help of a Bronx injury lawyer, you can get compensation for injuries sustained while traveling on a boat. A Bronx injury lawyer has the expertise to represent those who have been injured while at sea, especially in cases where the boat operator was boating under the influence and is clearly at fault. 

WHAT DOES NEW YORK LAW SAY ABOUT BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Though there are possibly many reasons a boating accident could occur, one of the most avoidable yet rampant causes is boating under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Your right to compensation for injuries sustained as a result of boating accidents caused by other’s negligence is guaranteed by the law. Of course, under New York law, it’s pretty clear that it’s illegal to boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol. But such guarantees are not without limitations; everything has to add up before you can get compensations. 

Whether or not you get compensation and the value of such compensation depends on a lot of factors. The blood alcohol level of the boat operator, the type of boat involved, presence or absence of safety equipment and a number of other things are usually considered. 

However, it’s common sense that you probably won’t be able to get compensation for all injuries you sustain while onboard. So when exactly do you have a case? How do you know when to fight it out after a drug or alcohol related boating accident? 

For starters, for someone or an entity to be liable for damages or injuries, they must first be proven negligent. This means, to establish a clear case of boating under the influence, the boat operator must be proven to have consumed substances – drugs or alcohol – that directly or indirectly resulted in the accident. 

If the boat operator was boating with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher, it means he (or she) was legally drunk when the accident happened. It definitely reduces the room for a lot of debate if the boat driver is proven to be negligent by boating while being drunk. 

However, things may change a bit for boats involving public vessels like ferries and tourist boats utilized for commercial purposes. While it takes a BAC of .08% to be considered drunk, operators of public vessels could be proven negligent with a BAC of just about .04%. In such cases, negligence may not be established by the operator being drunk, it, however, could be established by the operator’s ability being impaired to “some extent” by alcohol. An example of such impairment could be a boat operator’s unawareness of tides and water current or inability to clearly see things that are visible under the water or other boats. 

Of course, boating under the influence isn’t all about alcohol intoxication. You still have a solid case if your boat operator was boating under the influence of drugs. Though the definition of drugs is not particularly clear here, your boat operator will be legally presumed to be under the influence if the ingested substances like cocaine and marijuana. 

Drug or alcohol consumption by a boat operator translates to the more likely that the person will make unsafe or dangerous decisions. So, if you are able to establish this fact against your boat operator in the case of an accident, they are likely going to be liable for damages.

COMPENSATION EXPECTATIONS

The value of compensation you should expect may depend on the severity of the damages you incur due to the accident. The value of compensation could range between a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands. If the injuries you sustained requires surgery or complete hospitalization, then the boat operator (or the boating company) may be liable for the medical bills. Apart from medical bills for treatment of injuries sustained, you can also be compensated for future medical expenses that you are likely to incur as a result of the accident. 

Hospitalization may also mean the victim is unable to work nor earn some wages. This may be factored into the monetary compensations that you’ll be awarded, but it varies depending on the unique case. Also, depending on the resulting situation, you could also be compensated for “loss of future earnings,” especially if the accident or injuries may restrict you from working for a while. 

Similarly, if you have lost a loved one, you may become emotionally wounded or fall into depression. You may also suffer mental anguish as a result of your experience during the accident. Apart from physical injuries, you could also be awarded compensation for emotional injuries. 

But that’s not all to it, the erring party could still be liable to even more damage. If you had an accident while on a trip, the erring party may be liable for cost the cost associated with the canceled trip or canceled plans. And then there’s the cost associated with personal properties you may have lost during the accident. 

All in all, you may be entitled to a considerable number of damages. There’s technically no limit to the type of damage claims and the amount in claims an injured party can make. If you are injured in a boating accident, damages you are entitled to all sum up to both compensatory and punitive damages. 

Compensatory damages reimburse or compensate the injured party for the injuries they have sustained and available in almost all cases of personal injuries at sea. Punitive damages, on the other hand, are awarded in select cases and are mostly awarded if the offending party’s action that led to the accident is considered very despicable or reprehensible. A possible scenario where punitive damages can be awarded would be if the erring party involved in aggravated assault, sexual assault or fraudulent behavior that caused widespread damages to others onboard.  

If you ever have the unfortunate experience of an accident while out on the sea, do not hesitate to contact an attorney as soon as possible. Your legal right to being compensated is your power, don’t hesitate to use it.

There’s really no argument that drowsy driving is quite dangerous. It may not be immediately apparent, but driving while intensely feeling sleepy can be equally as dangerous as drunk driving. According to a study by the AAA in 2018, drowsiness is responsible for about 9.5 percent of car crashes in the US. This means lots of possibly avoidable deaths and personal injuries are caused by sleepy drivers. This is partly responsible for the increase in demand for Bronx personal injury attorney. 

Whether or not road accidents occur could boil down to a split second decision. Swerving the car to avoid a straying pedestrian or hitting the break during a near collision are actions that require the driver to be on full alert. Being drowsy on the wheel significantly reduces alertness and decision making speed. This means, even while a sleeping driver is aware of an impending accident, his (or her) slow response time makes it nearly impossible to avoid an accident. 

Apart from slow response time, making the right judgment when something is going wrong is equally critical. Being drowsy behind the wheel can impair your decision-making abilities as much as alcohol. As a matter of fact – if you haven’t slept for the past 24 hours – it’s equivalent to having a blood alcohol level of .10 which is higher than the allowed legal level of less than .80. 

However, drowsy driving could be almost impossible to avoid for a lot of people. Even the most well-intentioned of drivers get stuck in the web of drowsy driving. Sleep may seem like a subtle natural force, but it sure has a thing for having its way when it wants. There’s almost no way to cheat sleep and get away with it. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, then you run a significantly higher risk of drowsy driving. 

An average adult should have at least 7 hours of sleep daily. Unfortunately, millions of Americans who own and drive automobiles aren’t getting that much sleep. Sleep deprivation is undoubtedly one of the primary causes of drowsy driving. Getting enough sleep before hitting the road could turn out to be a lifesaver.

Avoiding Drowsy Driving

Considering the accompanying danger, it’s very important to avoid being asleep behind the wheels. While getting enough sleep works for a lot of people, some drivers still find themselves dosing off even when they get more than 7 hours of sleep daily. If you’re experiencing such a problem, it might be important to avoid driving for a while until you sort out yourself. But commercial drivers and people who drive themselves to work might find that a little hard to do.  

So how exactly can you ensure your safety in such a scenario? Here are a few things that can help.

Get a medical check-up

It may not show apparent symptoms, but if you’re having enough sleep but still have a hard time staying awake behind wheels, you may be having a medical condition. For instance, obstructive sleep apnea – a popular sleep disorder, can reduce the quality of your sleep even when you’ve spent more than 7 hours at it. If you are having such a condition you might be more likely to feel tired while on the wheel. 

Unfortunately, you might not even know you have a sleep disorder, so it’s usually a good thing to check in with a doctor for diagnosis if you feel something isn’t right. Proper diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders should help you regain health as well as stay awake and alert while driving. 

Avoid being too tired

Sleep deprivation may be the major cause of drowsy driving, but being overworked and tired is sure going to get you drowsy. Driving your car back from a long day at work is cool, but taking a taxi might be safer for you. If you do intense or strenuous jobs all day at your office it might be in your interest to avoid driving. 

Similarly, if you’ve participated in any form of a sporting event like football, you may be very tired and unfit to drive as well. Such tiredness could be even more dangerous if you’ve had no time to rest and you go out driving at night. Tiredness could just be as big a risk as sleep deprivation, when behind the wheel. Before hitting the road, give yourself as much rest as you can and ensure to stay away from strenuous activities if you may need to drive soon.

Check your medications

If you’re having enough sleep, not suffering any sleep disorder and usually well rested but still having problems staying awake on the wheels – you should probably have a look at your meds. Many prescription or over-the-counter drugs are laden with substances that can make you quite drowsy. A lot of people are unaware of the side effects of medications like antihistamines, antidepressants, anxiety drugs, and muscle relaxers. These drugs are capable of inducing sleepiness, even much so when you’re driving – basically seated in the same position almost idle for a long amount of time.  

 

Of course, there are other people who take sleep aids to help improve the quality of their sleep but don’t hide the instructions to sleep for about eight hours afterward. Doing this only invites big problems; drug-induced sleep could be even much more intense. 

To avoid drowsy driving, make sure to equally avoid sleep aids if possible. If you’re suffering from health conditions that necessitate the use of sleep aids, strictly adhere to doctor’s instructions and sleep as much as possible before driving. 

Drive with a companion

Even if you are well rested, driving hours and hours on long distance journeys could eventually make you tired and sleepy. When traveling on long distances, it is highly recommended to travel with a companion who can take the wheels while you take some minutes of rest. 

Also, a companion can keep you engaged in a conversation, which increases your chances of staying awake. Going solo on a long distance journey could get you easily bored, tired and subsequently drowsy. Studies have shown that drowsy drivers are unable to notice that they are driving poorly. A companion is also in the best place to notice when your driving is becoming erratic and opt for taking turns. 

Driving while being tired and sleepy makes you a danger to yourself, government properties and other road users. It could result in  While a little dose of caffeine is a good way to stay awake and alert, it might not work well with everyone. Make sure to avoid as many things that could cause sleep deprivation or randomly induce sleep – stay awake and alert – and drive safely.