When someone hires a car accident attorney after a collision, they often focus first on obvious causes like speeding, distracted driving, or impaired driving. But fatigue behind the wheel is frequently overlooked.
Recognizing Fatigue As A Cause Of Crashes
Driver fatigue is not simply feeling sleepy. When a driver has been awake too long, accommodated irregular hours, or experienced a failure of their internal sleep‑wake cycle, their ability to control a vehicle safely can deteriorate. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “driver fatigue is a major workplace safety risk” and may be present in as many as one in five fatal crashes. One study estimated that nearly 17.6% of all fatal crashes in the U.S. between 2017 and 2021 involved a drowsy driver. Practically speaking, fatigue may mimic the effects of alcohol impairment: slower reaction times, poor decision‑making, or missing crucial warning signs on the road.
Establishing That Fatigue Was A Factor
When attempting to argue that driver fatigue played a role in a crash, there is a combination of recorded and factual pieces of evidence that are needed to build a strong case. For example:
1. Driver Activity and Schedule
Reviewing how many hours the driver had been active, when they started driving, and whether they took rest breaks is critical. Long driving stints, night‑time hours, or early morning shifts raise concern. For example, jurisdictions find that the longer the trip and the more it coincides with the body’s “sleep window,” the greater the risk of a fatigue‑related crash.
2. Medical and Sleep History
If a driver suffers from a sleep disorder (such as obstructive sleep apnea) or has a documented history of lack of sleep, this can elevate the chance of fatigue impairment. Noting this type of history forms part of the investigation.
3. Vehicle/Road Behavior
Signs of lane departure, lack of steering corrections, no braking, or a single‑vehicle run‑off are often consistent with fatigue‑related crashes. Studies show fatigue and drowsiness increase the odds of these types of accident patterns.
4. Time of Day and Environmental Factors
Crashes occurring during peak low‑alertness windows (early morning hours, mid‑afternoon slump) or after prolonged driving may suggest fatigue. For example, one naturalistic driving study found fatigue to be a cause in ~20% of crashes, including daytime.
5. Corroborating Evidence
Logbooks, phone records, GPS tracking, dash‑cam footage, and witness statements may show the driver’s route, breaks taken (or not taken), and behavior before the crash. These records support linking fatigue to the event.
Why Fatigue Matters In Crash Litigation
When fatigue is shown to have contributed to a collision, it affects liability, causation, and damages in several ways:
- Liability: If a driver is so impaired by tiredness that their conduct falls below the standard a reasonably alert driver would meet, then liability may be established.
- Causation: Showing that the fatigue‑related impairment (slow reaction, missed signal, microsleep) led directly to the crash helps link driver behavior to the harm.
- Damages: Fatigue‑related crashes frequently lead to more severe injuries, because there is less reaction time or avoidance. For example, fatigue‑related crashes are more likely to be serious or fatal.
As our friends at Rispoli & Borneo P.C. can share, raising fatigue as a factor demonstrates the breadth of investigation and strengthens the position of a claimant who may have been injured by a driver whose alertness was compromised.
Practical Steps After A Fatigue‑Suspected Crash
If you believe fatigue played a role in your collision, here are steps to take:
- Record the time, location, and driving conditions at the moment of the crash.
- Request your attorney to obtain driving logs, employer schedules (if a commercial driver is involved), phone or GPS data, and any dash‑cam footage.
- Identify any medical history of the driver that may indicate compromised sleep.
- Secure witness statements about driver behavior before the crash (e.g., yawning, nodding off, erratic lane changes).
- Avoid relying solely on the driver’s self‑report of being “just tired”. Professional analysis of fatigue typically requires more than a simple statement.
Fatigue can be just as dangerous as other forms of impairment behind the wheel, yet it is often overlooked. Demonstrating that a driver’s tiredness or failure to rest was a contributing factor may widen the path to accountability and recovery. If you or a loved one was injured in a similar situation, reach out to a local lawyer today.