Car Accident at Night

Did you know that traffic fatality rates are three times greater at night compared to during the day? More than 40,000 Americans are killed in car accidents every year and almost half of all these fatalities occur at night, even though there's 60 percent less traffic on our roads and highways.

While weather, poor road conditions, and other hazards make driving dangerous on occasion, driving at night is something you probably encounter frequently. Even the most familiar roads can look foreign in the dark, and it becomes difficult to see other cars, pedestrians, and deer.

Car accidents cause fear and uncertainty, especially when they happen at night. Calling a lawyer might be the last thing on your mind, but evidence disappears quickly. That's why we make it easy to contact us – our phones answer 24/7 and you can always fill out an online legal consultation.

Challenges and Risks of Night Driving

• Vision

• About 90% of a driver's reaction time depends on vision, which is impaired in the dark.
• Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral (side) vision are also compromised at night.
• Twilight is actually one of the most difficult times to drive because your eyes have to constantly adjust to changing light.

• Deer

• Deer are most active in the evening, around 6-9 p.m., from mid-October to mid-December.
• They travel in groups and are especially unpredictable when caught in headlights.
• Pennsylvania and West Virginia have some of the highest deer-car collision rates in the country.

• Impaired driving

• Drunk driving is illegal and severely impairs your ability to drive. Over half of all fatal crashes at night are alcohol-related.
• Drowsiness dulls concentration and occurs more frequently at night.

• Dangerous driving

• Speeding is a risky behavior that results in many fatalities, especially at night when vision and reaction time are compromised.
• Of the people killed in car crashes at night, 2/3 are not wearing a seatbelt.

If you were injured in a car accident due to any of these factors, you probably have a lot of questions. Our attorneys and legal staff are here to take care of those concerns and help you move forward with your life. We have decades of experience helping car accident victims, which has resulted in many successful verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Tips for Driving at Night

Although driving at night is dangerous, there are precautions you can take to keep yourself, your passengers, and other drivers safe.

• Regularly clean your vehicle's headlights, taillights, signal lights, and windows.
• Don't drink and drive. Alcohol seriously impairs your ability to drive and is a depressant, which causes fatigue.
• Limit your speed and increase your following distance from other cars.
• Make sure your headlights are aimed properly to avoid blinding other drivers.
• Turn off your high beams when you're following another vehicle or if there's oncoming traffic.
• If oncoming drivers do not turn off their high beams, look toward the white line on the right edge of the road to avoid glare.

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