It is estimated that trucks cause over 300,000 accidents in our country on a yearly basis. This may seem like a shocking number until you realize the lengths at which trucking companies go to make sure products get to where they are supposed to go. Driver fatigue due to being forced to work 18 hour days, having no rest breaks and not servicing trucks regularly can all contribute to impaired cognition which can make it more likely for a truck driver to lose control of his vehicle, causing an accident involving an average-sized sedan. That being said, there’s perhaps nothing that’s more dangerous than a phenomenon called highway hypnosis, which we’ll take an in-depth look at in this post.
Are you looking for a truck accident injuries attorney? If you were involved in a truck accident with a driver that you believe was at fault due to them not paying attention to the road, being drunk or intoxicated, or being too tired to be on the road, we may be able to help you seek compensation. Truck drivers are notoriously known for working extremely long hours, using stimulants and not paying attention to the road given the pressure they’re under to deliver items within a set timeline, and it’s absolutely NOT OK to let them or their companies off the hook. Please call our truck accident nationwide attorneys NOW at (773) 825-3605 to learn more about how we can help. Our attorneys have over 90 YEARS of collective legal experience, and we’ve helped tens of thousands of injured victims over the years seek compensation. In addition, we take on all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront fees or any fees during the duration of the case UNTIL we recover compensation on your behalf. Call (773) 825-3605 TODAY to speak with a truck accident lawyer.
What Causes Highway Hypnosis?
When the brain carries out monotonous tasks, it’s not uncommon for it to be lulled into a hypnotic state where a part of the brain gets switched off as it’s not in use on account of force of habit. Highway hypnosis therefore refers to the trance-like state that most truck drivers enter while driving on a highway with a monotonous, familiar landscape. Hypnosis disengages your critical faculties, and your conscious awareness, and can literally make you fall asleep with your eyes still wide open. This is because the visual cortex is disabled during hypnosis, which means you see nothing but may continue on with tasks that do not require vigilant attention.
Why Is Highway Hypnosis Dangerous?
The problem with highway hypnosis is – well, for starters, you’re sharing the road with other motorists, so you’re more likely to not notice the truck going off course and into another lane, and even a different lane and onto oncoming traffic. In addition, even if you’re jarred back into reality by commotion and the screeching of tires on pavement, you won’t be able to react in a timely manner, thereby averting an accident.
Distracted Driving and Highway Hypnosis Lawyers – Call Today!
Highway hypnosis is a form of distracted driving which has numerous causes such as driver fatigue due to overwork and not being allowed breaks, driver intoxication, the use of electronic equipment and phones while driving, eyeballing traffic, and so on. Distracted driving almost always leads to accidents and may attract a truck accident lawsuit. By filing a truck accident legal claim, you may be able to recover compensation for money damages for things such as present and future medical bills, lost wages, loss of wage earning ability, pain and suffering, mental anguish and so much more. If you were hurt in a truck accident, please call our distracted driving truck accident attorneys NOW at (773) 825-3605 to learn more about your legal options for compensation. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you.