Personal Injury Lawyers Helping Victims of Nighttime Car Accidents in Washington
Nighttime driving is one of the most dangerous.
Combine the fatigue, lack of natural daylight, compromised vision, and other impaired drivers on the road together, and you have entered a highly dangerous situation. The fatal crash rate for night time is three times greater than it is during the day according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Therefore, automobile manufacturers and safety organizations are seeking ways to reduce such occurrences.
How Dangerous is Nighttime Driving?
Per the National Sleep Foundation, 60 percent of adults have reported that they drove while tired and 37 percent admitted that they fell asleep at the wheel. Out of that same pool, 13 percent admitted to falling asleep at the wheel at least once per month.
The Issue of Compromised Night Vision
The biggest issue for nighttime driving is compromised vision. Not everyone can naturally adjust their eyes and most cannot handle low-light conditions. Also, as driver ages, their ability to see at night and adjust is more complicated.
Driving becomes more difficult for motorists over the age of 60, which is why it is recommended that they receive frequent eye examinations and some states are now requiring an eye examination and driving test for older individuals.
Will New Headlight Technology Stop Nighttime Accidents?
Headlight technology has been quickly evolving. Today, cars are safer. And as these new lights make their way to the assembly line, the number of auto accidents at night are likely to fade.
One of the latest innovations is the adaptive headlight. Adaptive headlights are a safety feature that’s active on modern vehicles. It is designed to negate the hazards of ordinary driving by increasing visibility around curves and hills.
Mainly, the headlights move with the vehicle around these corners, providing light in areas that would otherwise be dark.
Not all vehicles have adaptive headlights. Initially, higher end cars started offering them automatically. Now, more budget-friendly cars are also offering the option of adaptive headlights. Some manufacturers known to add these adaptive headlights include:
- Hyundai
- BMW
- Buick
- Cadillac
- Audi
- Mercedes
In addition to adaptive headlights, some manufacturers are including high beam assist technology. High beam assist specifically supports nighttime driving situations. The lights switch automatically to low beam and back to high beam when necessary on dark roads – ensuring that one vehicle does not accidentally blind an oncoming driver.
Lastly, vehicles are starting to deploy a cornering light function. Automatically these cornering lights turn with the vehicle in tandem with the steering wheel, thereby allowing the driver to see around corners.
Injured in an Automobile Accident? Contact an Attorney Today
While the adaptive and high-beam support systems are promising, they can only compensate for so much. They are likely to reduce nighttime accidents and injuries, but there will still be instances where motorists are seriously injured because of a driver’s inattention or fatigue – headlight technology or not.
When you or a loved one is injured in a serious motor vehicle accident, it is imperative you speak with an injury advocate. Contact the Washington car accident lawyers from Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC today at 800-925-1875 or send a message online to schedule a free consultation.
