Not everyone who lives in Connecticut works a standard 9:00 to 5:00 job. In fact, many workers find that their schedules frequently change, with many working night shifts. While it is true that there is a need for nighttime workers in certain workplaces and industries, nighttime work has been increasingly associated with health and safety risks.
Researchers have noted that night shift workers often have health issues believed to be associated with night time work and disturbed sleep patterns. Now, there is evidence that these workers may be more likely to get into car crashes, even when driving during the daytime.
In fact, a recent study showed that over 37 percent of test subjects who worked a night shift before taking a driving test were involved in a near-crash event. Drowsiness led to behaviors that researchers compared to being impaired by high blood alcohol levels. These impairments were observed even in very experienced night shift workers.
The impact that night shift work can have on a person’s ability to drive safely should be a concern for everyone. Even though these workers are simply doing their jobs, they may pose a risk to the health and safety of other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Catastrophic injuries caused by car accidents can have a devastating effect on victims, including permanent disability, financial problems caused by loss of wages and death.
Individuals who have been the victim of an automobile accident may benefit from speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney. The lawyer may be able to review the client’s circumstances in the context of the accident. From there, the attorney may be able to assist the client in obtaining some compensation by working with insurance companies, seeking a settlement or even pursuing litigation.
