Do you tend to feel tired in winter? Do the short daylight hours and cold weather just leave you sleepier than normal? For many people, the fatigue they feel is a yearly nuisance — but winter fatigue can turn deadly when it affects someone’s driving.
Drivers who are fatigued have a slower reaction time than those who are well-rested. They may not make the decisions that can help to keep themselves and those around them safe. Because of this, anyone who is fatigued should ensure they get off the road as quickly as possible and rest before heading back out.
What factors contribute to driver fatigue?
There are many things that can contribute to driver fatigue. While you might assume that this is due to lack of sleep, this is only one of the causes that may lead to this issue. Other factors include:
- Working overnights when the body is programmed to sleep
- Having an abnormal sleep schedule
- Being inactive for long periods of time
- Doing monotonous activities or driving on familiar roads
- Taking medications or having medical conditions that cause fatigue
It’s also possible that lack of sleep can lead to fatigue, but this lack of sleep doesn’t have to happen all at once. Instead, it’s possible that a driver could miss a few hours of sleep per night for a few nights in a row and suffer from fatigue that impairs their ability to drive.
Anyone who is struck by a fatigued driver may suffer from serious injuries, and that can lead to major medical bills, lost wages and other problems. It’s only fair to seek appropriate compensation for your losses. If you’ve been injured, an experienced attorney can help you hold the other driver accountable for their mistake.