In Michigan and elsewhere, one of the most common reasons for vehicle accidents is driver fatigue. Drivers who are too tired exhibit slower reaction times, lane drifting and more, and they often doze off behind the wheel. This, of course, makes them dangerous to be around on the road, as made evident in a recent multi-vehicle accident in Monroe County.
Accident details
Around 7 a.m. the morning of Tuesday, March 15, a woman, 36, was driving a U-Haul truck along local roadway, and she had two passengers with her, a man, 30, and a youth of unspecified age. Authorities believe the woman fell asleep behind the wheel and drifted into the opposing lane of travel. This was when she struck a Chevy pickup driven by a 46-year-old man and a Jeep Patriot driven by a 60-year-old man.
In the collision, the Jeep overturned, and the driver was declared dead at the scene. The report did not mention any other injuries, and officials are investigating whether speed and/or intoxication played a role. Authorities are asking for anyone with knowledge about the crash to contact them.
Wrongful death
Since the 60-year-old man driving the Jeep appears to be the only casualty in the crash, his surviving family may elect to pursue a wrongful death claim against the U-Haul driver to pursue recovery of monetary damages. The fact the woman reportedly fell asleep behind the wheel can be used as evidence in their case against her. Affected parties will want to work closely with an experienced personal injury attorney in Michigan to increase their chances of obtaining a successful outcome.
