When winter comes, we are all more vulnerable to coming down with a cold or the flu. You are likely familiar with the symptoms of these illnesses, which can include fatigue, fever, headaches, coughing, sneezing and muscle aches. To put it bluntly, suffering from a seasonal illness is absolutely no fun. But were you aware that it can also cause problems on the road?
According to one study, being sick can actually curb an individual’s driving skills by around 50 percent. Researchers compared the effects of a cold to having consumed “four double whiskeys.”
Typically, being ill seriously impairs a driver’s ability to concentrate and slows reaction time. In fact, another study found that a cold can actually slow a driver’s reaction time significantly more than drinking four pints of beer.
But depending on the symptoms, even a small cold or a minor case of the flu could pose a danger. A university professor points out a simple sneeze could cause a driver to look away from the road for a few seconds. And imagine the problems presented by an extended coughing fit. And trying to treat these symptoms with cold and flu medications could impact a driver’s skills even more severely.
Driving while ill may not be considered a serious road hazard like drunk driving or distracted driving, but the research shows that it can be very dangerous nonetheless. And if this winter you are injured in an automobile accident with someone who should not have been behind the wheel, you may want to fully explore your options for maximizing your compensation.
Insurance companies often want to offer those who file injury claims less than they are entitled to. For this reason, it could prove very beneficial to have an experienced personal injury attorney represent your interests to help make sure you receive an appropriate level of recompense.