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Injury

No Win No Fee Compensation Claims for Personal Injury

Were you injured in a car accident caused by a tired driver? Not surprisingly driver fatigue is one of the main causes of accidents and has resulted in horrific road traffic accidents involving other vehicles and has also caused fatal rail accidents. If you have been the victim of a fatigued driver you should be able to claim compensation for personal injury or other losses. We deal with accident compensation claims and our solicitors are all personal injury specialists who deal with claims using the no win no fee scheme. Compensation is paid in full with no deductions. Win or lose there is no charge. If you wish to pursue a claim against a tired driver just complete the contact form or use the helpline and a specialist solicitor will give you free advice on tired driver compensation claims without any further obligation.

The Facts About Driver Fatigue

Recently the Department of Transport and Local Government commissioned a study on car insurance claims. The study was carried out by Loughborough University. Amongst their research was a finding that one in ten car insurance claims are brought on the basis of driver fatigue. Research performed by additional organisations support this finding. Statistics released by the road safety organisation Brake indicate that each week ten people are killed in car accidents caused by driver fatigue.

These sobering findings have lead to driver fatigue being called the "Silent Killer." Drowsy drivers cause around 16% of all traffic accidents and more than 20% of all motorway collisions. Moreover, a recent Gallup poll commissioned by the British Sleep Foundation found that 19% of male drivers admitted to having fallen asleep at the wheel.

Causes of Fatigue-Related Accidents

Why is driver fatigue such a common occurrence? Part of the answer may lie in the technology that makes driving a car easier than it was in the past. Numerous features in today's cars enable the driver to operate their vehicle while paying little attention to driving. Cruise control, for example, relieves the driver of a task that would otherwise force them to concentrate on their driving.

Drivers who have not had adequate sleep the night before are the most common cause of fatigue-related accidents. Another factor is that the effects of sleep deprivation are experienced more strongly at certain times of the day. Those who have not had enough sleep experience greater drowsiness in the morning and mid-afternoon.

Recognise the Driver Fatigue Warning Signs

Accidents caused by driver fatigue could often be avoided if the driver paid attention to the warning signs. Drivers who are becoming dangerously drowsy will find themselves blinking more frequently and shaking their heads in order to stay awake. Sometimes drivers ignore these signs, mistakenly believing that they can stay awake. At the first sign of fatigue, the driver should pull over and rest. Opening a window or turning on the radio are not enough to keep you awake.

Any medication with a potential side effect of drowsiness should not be taken prior to operating a motor vehicle. Medications that frequently induce drowsiness include antihistamines, cold and flu medications and medications to relieve motion sickness. Always read the label to see the possible side effects of a medication. If drowsiness is a possible side effect, it will be indicated on both the bottle and the package containing the medication.