Call for a FREE Evaluation
423-928-0165
423-928-0165
Every March, we “spring forward” and lose an hour of sleep. On paper, this is only a minor change. On the road, however, it can be a real problem for commuters in Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Greenville, Elizabethton, Knoxville, and throughout East Tennessee. Our Tennessee car crash lawyers know all too well that this one-hour shift can throw off the body’s internal clock, slow reaction time, and make drivers feel groggy.
Even when a driver “feels fine” during this period, operating on less sleep has a measurable effect on decision-making. When a sleepy driver drifts across lanes on I-26 or misses a red light on a busy Johnson City corridor, it doesn’t matter how well they think they feel.
If you have been hurt in a car accident and you suspect someone else’s drowsy driving played a role, it’s smart to talk to a Tennessee car crash lawyer as soon as possible. At The Haynes Firm, we’ve spent close to 50 years helping victims of injury throughout East Tennessee seek fair and full compensation following serious injury. We’re here to listen to your experiences, help you understand your options, and assist you in seeking compensation for all of your damages.
To schedule your FREE case review with one of our attorneys, call The Haynes Firm at 423-928-0165 today. Located in Johnson City, we proudly represent clients from Knoxville, Chattanooga, Gatlinburg, Jonesborough, and throughout Tennessee.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving plays a role in 91,000 police-reported car crashes every year, resulting in 50,000 injuries and 800 fatalities annually. This is not surprising. Fatigue can affect attention, judgement, and reaction times in much the same way as alcohol impairment.
Daylight Saving Time can lead to acute sleep loss and disruption of the body’s circadian rhythms (the body’s natural sleep/wake cycle). Disruptions to the body’s sleep/wake cycle can result in:
Excessive fatigue caused by sleep disruptions can also reduce impulse control and enhance irritability, both of which can increase instances of road rage. This further places everyone on the road at heightened risk of a crash.
To make matters worse, during the weeks immediately following Daylight Saving Time, mornings are darker. Driving in low-light conditions increases the risk of serious and fatal crashes. Researchers have found that the workweek after the spring time change is linked to a 6% uptick in fatal traffic crashes nationwide.
The best way to avoid drowsy driving is to get enough sleep. The Tennessee Highway Safety Office recommends getting at least seven hours of sleep each night, pulling over if you start to feel tired, and driving with a passenger when possible. But getting enough sleep can be difficult following a time change.
It can help to start adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before the time changes. Adjusting your routines, avoiding screen time before bed, and changing habits (like when you drink caffeine) can also help.
Steps you take to adjust before Daylight Saving Time can make a big impact on your cognitive abilities. Not only can this help you avoid causing a crash, but it may even increase your ability to respond to the negligent driving patterns of others before they can crash into you.
Proving drowsy driving isn’t like proving speeding. There’s no radar gun, and studies suggest the problem is widely underreported. This means it takes a deeper, evidence-driven investigation to show that fatigue played a role in an accident.
At The Haynes Firm, our Tennessee car crash lawyers often work with various experts in fields like crash reconstruction to uncover the truth of what happened before, during, and after a crash. We consider evidence such as:
It can be difficult to establish how a crash happened and who can be held liable on your own. Having an experienced Tennessee car crash lawyer on your side helps to ensure all possible factors are considered, and the person responsible for your injuries is held accountable for their actions.
The Haynes Firm is an award-winning law firm based in Johnson City, Tennessee. We are proud to represent clients living in Kingsport, Bristol, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and throughout the state.
With more than 70 years of combined legal experience, our lawyers know Tennessee courts, local laws and regulations, and the impacts serious injuries have on people and their families in our community. We take a client-first approach, taking time to listen to your story, and focus our representation on getting you the full compensation you deserve.
We understand that strong outcomes come from careful attention to detail. We are thorough in our investigations, working tirelessly to unearth all causes of your accident so each responsible party can be held accountable. We build our cases to withstand any eventuality and are willing to take them as far as necessary in our pursuit of justice.
With the belief that money should not be a hindrance to seeking compensation, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you don’t pay for our services until after we have secured compensation on your behalf. Your initial consultation is free of both cost and obligation, enabling you to meet with us without risk to get a fuller understanding of your options and rights.
When the March time change increases fatigue risks, the crashes that follow are often serious. Serious cases deserve a serious response. The Tennessee car crash lawyers at The Haynes Firm are here to help.
If you were hit by a driver who seemed exhausted, drifted across lanes, or caused a “no-reaction” crash, trust your instincts. Drowsy driving is a serious threat, but proving it takes work.
Use our online contact form or call our Johnson City office to schedule a FREE consultation with an experienced Tennessee car crash lawyer, and let us help you get a clear understanding of the best way to move forward.
1009 East Watauga Ave.
Johnson City, TN 37601
Map & Directions [+]
207 East Main Street
Johnson City, TN 37604
Appointment only
Map & Directions [+]
