Highway hypnosis, otherwise known as “white line fever,” occurs when a driver “zones out” while operating their vehicle on long stretches of flat highway. When many drivers succumb to highway hypnosis, they are operating their vehicles at speeds of 65 miles per hour or greater. While commercial vehicle drivers, including operators of large trucks, tractor-trailers, big rigs, and 18-wheelers, are especially susceptible to highway hypnosis, passenger vehicle operators can also become “hypnotized” while behind the wheel.
When a driver experiences highway hypnosis, they are more likely to cause serious accidents with other drivers or pedestrians. Even if a driver does not fall completely asleep at the wheel, they may still experience extreme fatigue and lose their concentration. Consequently, they may experience delayed reaction time, preventing them from stopping their vehicle in time to avoid a crash.
Drivers have a duty to obey all traffic laws and operate their vehicles safely at all times. If you suffered injuries in an accident that resulted from another driver’s highway hypnosis, you might be eligible to file a personal injury claim with the at-fault driver’s motor vehicle insurance company for damages. An Orange County car accident attorney can assist you with every aspect of the claims-filing process and, if necessary, file a lawsuit and litigate your case to a conclusion in the California state court system.
Ways to Avoid Highway Hypnosis
There are several steps that a motor vehicle driver can take to avoid succumbing to highway hypnosis while driving. First, a driver may need to roll down their windows or turn on the air conditioner to keep their vehicle cold. Cold air sometimes “shocks” the driver’s senses, ensuring that they remain alert while they are behind the wheel.
Next, a driver might wish to turn their music up loudly and even sing along to music, ensuring that they remain alert at all times.
Another good idea is for drivers to read license plates, billboards, and signs as they drive along. Doing so helps to ensure that their mind remains active while behind the wheel.
It is also a good idea for drivers to sit up straight in their seats, chew gum, or listen to an audiobook while driving.
Finally, it is extremely important that drivers stop every hour or so to stretch, let the “cobwebs” out, and, if necessary, take a power nap before heading back out on the road. Taking these steps helps to ensure that drivers do not become fatigued while driving, lessening their chances of causing a serious accident.
Types of Accidents That Result From Highway Hypnosis
When a motor vehicle driver becomes hypnotized while behind the wheel, they are more prone to causing serious accidents. Some of the most common accidents that result from fatigued driving include rear-end crashes, sideswipe accidents, head-on collisions, and broadside collisions.
A rear-end accident happens when the front of one vehicle hits the back of another vehicle – usually near a traffic intersection or following an abrupt highway back-up. A driver who is dozing off may not see the vehicle in front of them, causing a significant rear-end collision.
Similarly, sideswipe accidents happen when the sides of two vehicles traveling in the same direction strike one another. A fatigued driver who is not paying attention to the road might negligently cause a vehicle to drift into another travel lane, pushing the vehicle on the receiving end out of their lane – or completely off the road.
Head-on collisions happen when the fronts of two vehicles strike one another while traveling in opposite directions. A fatigued driver might negligently cause a vehicle to cross the center median strip or double line, hitting another vehicle head-on and causing the vehicle occupants to suffer serious injuries and fatalities.
Finally, a broadside accident, or T-bone collision, happens when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of an adjacent vehicle traveling on another roadway. These accidents may happen when a fatigued driver fails to notice a red traffic light or stop sign and enters the traffic intersection unexpectedly.
If you suffered injuries in an accident that resulted from fatigued driving, you should contact a California car accident attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer can review your legal options and help you pursue the monetary damages you deserve for your accident-related injuries.
Call a California Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you suffered injuries in an OC car crash that resulted from fatigued driving or highway hypnosis, an experienced attorney could help you recover the monetary damages you need for your injuries. Those damages may include compensation for your related medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, inconvenience, and loss of life enjoyment.
While your personal injury claim is pending, your attorney can assist you during settlement negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company. If the insurance company does not offer you the fair damages you deserve, your lawyer can file a lawsuit on your behalf in the court system and litigate your case to an efficient conclusion.
