Drowsy Driving Accident
The dedicated Milwaukee drowsy driving accident attorneys at Gruber Law Offices, LLC represent people who have been injured by other drivers who nodded off while behind the wheel. We are available to review the details of your crash and discuss your legal options.
Attorney David Gruber and the legal team at Gruber Law Offices, LLC have stood up for people injured in automobile accidents in Wisconsin for more than three decades. While our Milwaukee law firm has expanded to more than 120 attorneys and staff, Gruber Law Offices is a family-owned business.
David Gruber works with his wife, attorney Nancy Gruber, who is managing partner. Their son Steven Gruber, who also is a lawyer, joined the firm. We treat our clients with respect and personal attention. Our drowsy driving crash attorneys offer a free case review and represent clients on a contingency fee basis.
Gruber Law Offices only receives an attorney’s fee if we obtain an insurance settlement or a jury award for you. We have served individuals in Milwaukee and across the state of Wisconsin for more than three decades, and we’re here to put our experience and skill to work for you. Our motto is, “One call… that’s all!” It’s as simple as that: you call Gruber Law Offices, and our dedicated team will take care of all aspects of your drowsy driving accident case.
Call (414) 436-2496 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
How Dangerous Is Drowsy Driving in Milwaukee?
However, a 2018 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests that drowsy driving is a factor in a much higher portion of crashes than federal statistics indicate. The AAA study found that drowsiness was a factor in about 9.5 percent of crashes.
People who have been involved in accidents in Milwaukee caused by drowsy drivers often face challenges in proving the cause of these crashes. Wisconsin is one of only two states in the nation in which accident report forms do not have a way to denote fatigue or sleepiness as a crash factor. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can investigate the accident, collect evidence, and build the strongest claim possible on your behalf.
Common Injuries Due to Drowsy Drivers
In many cases, people suffer very serious injuries in crashes caused by drowsy drivers. A driver who falls asleep while driving may not attempt to brake before a collision. A driver who nods off may drift across the center line and hit an oncoming car head on, resulting in severe injuries.
Some of the most common injuries resulting from drowsy driving crashes include, but are not limited to:
Severe injuries often require lengthy terms of hospitalization as well as many weeks or months of follow-up care that can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. People who are recovering from severe injuries typically are unable to work for a period of time. Some accident victims are incapable of working again because of their injuries.
People harmed by drowsy drivers have a legal right to demand compensation for the medical expenses and other expenses they are facing because of the negligence of another driver. A victim of a drowsy driving crash in Milwaukee should work with a skilled lawyer who can investigate the cause of a drowsy driving accident.
Fatigued Driving in Milwaukee is Preventable
Commercial truck drivers often spend long hours behind the wheel to get deliveries to destinations as soon as possible. They are among the motorists commonly affected by driver fatigue and the truck accidents the fatigue causes.
- The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS), based on a three-year data collection project conducted by NHTSA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), found that 13 percent of commercial motor vehicle drivers were considered fatigued at the time of crashes. Because of the danger posed by sleepy truck drivers, FMSCA enacted federal rules to limit the number of hours that commercial drivers can operate a tractor-trailer without taking a rest break.
- Commercial truck drivers can drive up to 11 hours during a 14-hour period after being off duty for 10 or more consecutive hours. Then a driver must remain off duty for 10 consecutive hours.
- In other cases, a motorist’s cell phone records may provide evidence of how far a driver traveled within a period of time, indicating they traveled a long distance without rest. A driver also may have sent messages mentioning being fatigued.
- The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) recommends that people get a good night’s sleep before long trips and see a physician if they are experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness. Drive with a companion who stays awake on long trips and stop for a break every couple of hours or 100 miles.
- Wisconsin DOT also recommends avoiding alcohol and medications that can affect driving performance.
- You should stay off the road between midnight and 7 a.m., a period when DOT says your body’s “biological clock” makes all people feel sleepy.
Wisconsin DOT says you should be aware of the common signs of fatigue such as lane drifting, yawning, or difficulty keeping your eyes open. You should take a brief nap in a safe rest area when this occurs. Also consider drinking coffee or another source of caffeine.
