Steps to Take if You Are an Accident With a Drowsy Driver
Accidents can happen anywhere and at any time, so it's important to be aware of your surroundings and make good decisions before getting behind the wheel. If you do have the misfortune of being involved in an accident with a drowsy driver, there are a few things you should do to protect your legal right to compensation:
- Call the police and make a report. This will create an official record of the accident.
- Get the other driver’s insurance information.
- Get contact details for any witnesses.
- Take pictures of the accident scene, including any damage to your car. Get pictures from as many different angles as possible.
- See a doctor as soon as possible, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Some injuries, like whiplash, can take days or weeks to show up.
Once you've reported your accident and addressed your immediate medical needs, you'll want to contact a personal injury lawyer who has experience with drowsy driving accidents. Your lawyer will investigate the accident and look for evidence to establish fault. For example:
- The other driver admitted to being tired or falling asleep at the wheel.
- There were witnesses who saw the other driver nodding off or driving erratically before the accident.
- The other driver has a history of drowsy driving accidents or traffic violations.
- The accident happened late at night or early in the morning.
- You have dashcam footage of the other driver swerving or driving erratically.