Did you know that your odds of getting into a fatal car accident may simply come down to what time of day you get behind the wheel? Studies have found that your risks at night are three times higher than your risks during the day. That information comes from the National Safety Council.
Why is night driving so dangerous? There are a lot of different reasons, including:
- Driver fatigue
- Drunk driving
- Compromised night vision
- Lack of depth perception
- Trouble with color recognition
- Issues effectively using peripheral vision
- The blinding glare of oncoming headlights
The weather can also play a role. For instance, driving in the rain is always more dangerous and difficult than driving on a clear, sunny day. At night, though, the rain can combine with that headlight glare to make it absolutely impossible for a driver to see anything. Each time a car goes by, the driver feels completely blinded.
Drunk driving, of course, is also a major issue. The bars tend to close in the early morning hours. Many people do not start drinking until the evening or at least late afternoon. While you can encounter an impaired driver at any time, the amount of impaired drivers on the road skyrockets after the sun goes down. Even if you are sober, the odds that someone else could hit you just continue to rise.
Have you gotten injured in a car accident at night? If you have, you may be facing lost wages, medical costs, and much more. Make sure you know if you have a right to seek financial compensation from the other driver.
