Were you hit by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel?

Our Bronx car accident lawyers fight for fair compensation

If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident caused by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel in the Bronx or another part of New York City, put your case in the hands of a lawyer who will fight for the compensation you deserve. Get Giampa Law on your side.

For more than 30 years, our experienced Bronx car accident attorneys have been winning cases for injured people in the Bronx and throughout New York City. As a result, we know how to handle injury claims involving crashes caused by sleeping drivers. Discover how an experienced attorney can help with your asleep at the wheel accident claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Driving while you’re fatigued or drowsy has been proven to be just as dangerous as drunk driving, as thousands of car accidents are caused every year by drivers who fall asleep at the wheel. In fact, it’s been shown that driving a car after going more than 20 hours without sleep is comparable to driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent – the legal limit in the U.S. For someone who hasn’t slept in 24 hours, that number jumps to 0.10 percent.

Similar to driving under the influence of alcohol, drowsy/fatigued driving slows your reaction time, makes it much harder to stay focused on the road, impacts your decision-making, and severely hinders your ability to safely drive a car overall.

What makes asleep at the wheel accidents so dangerous?

Driving while fatigued or drowsy has been proven to be just as dangerous as drunk driving, as thousands of car accidents are caused every year by drivers who fall asleep at the wheel. In fact, it’s been shown that driving a car after going more than 20 hours without sleep is comparable to driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent – the legal limit in the U.S. For someone who hasn’t slept in 24 hours, that number jumps to 0.10 percent.

This is why tired drivers should stop driving as soon as they realize they might cause an accident. Remember, tired drivers have a choice. They can decide to take a break. When they don’t make that choice, fall asleep, and cause a car accident, they should be held accountable for their actions.

Common causes of falling asleep car accidents

If you feel tired and you’re having a hard time staying alert, you should not drive. Some of the most common reasons for falling asleep at the wheel include:

Lack of sleep
Sleep disorders
Side effects of prescription medication
Drunk driving
Driving under the influence of drugs/impaired driving
Working irregular hours

If you were involved in a car accident with a driver who fell asleep at the wheel, you may be entitled to a significant cash payout. This is especially true if you’ve involved in a head-on accident with a sleeping driver or you’re rear-ended by a sleeping driver.

However, in New York, you must establish that you sustained a “serious injury” to pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Sometimes it’s unclear whether or not your injury qualifies, which is why you should consider speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney to go over the details of your case.

What can I be compensated for?

In general, you might be able to recover financial compensation for:

Medical expenses
Lost income
Loss of earning capacity
Replacement services (care for children, house cleaning)
Property damage
Pain and suffering
Wrongful death (for immediate family members of fatal car accident victims)

To see if you have a case and how much it might be worth, contact our law firm as soon as possible for a free consultation. Our Bronx car accident lawyers can listen to you explain what happened, discuss your legal options, answer your questions, and help you figure out the best way to proceed with your case.

How do you know if you’re too tired to drive?

To avoid falling asleep at the wheel, be aware of how you’re feeling and look out for obvious warning signs that you are too tired to drive. Common symptoms include:

Frequent yawning
Difficulty keeping your eyes open
Nodding off
Trouble keeping your head up
Not remembering the last few miles you drove
Not noticing street signs
Missing turns or stops
Failure to keep a consistent speed
Drifting out of your lane

If you’re driving and you notice any of these symptoms, pull over right away. You may be at risk of falling asleep at the wheel and could cause a serious or potentially fatal car accident.

An asleep at the wheel accident lawyer can help

A claim involving an accident with a driver who fell asleep at the wheel can be complicated. Even though your case may seem straightforward, the insurance company might still give you a hard time and try to get you to accept minimal compensation.

Remember, the insurance company is in business to minimize costs and maximize profits. That means they may argue that you are partially to blame for the crash or that your injuries aren’t as severe as you say they are. Worse yet, they might deny your claim altogether and offer you nothing at all.

Don’t let them take advantage of you. Our lawyers can handle every aspect of your claim and aggressively advocate for your best interests so that you can get the compensation you’re entitled to.

Best of all, we represent our clients on a contingency fee basis. In other words, there are no upfront costs and you don’t have to pay us anything unless we win. See what an experienced Bronx attorney can do for your asleep at the wheel accident claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.