A 45-year-old man who sustained fatal injuries in a car accident near Modesto the morning of May 13, 2010 has been identified by authorities as Kevin Vigil. The Union Democrat reports that the fatal accident occurred on Highway 108 near Knight's Ferry, when 30-year-old Jason Wood fell asleep at the wheel, drove his 2001 Chevy S-10 pickup truck into opposing lanes of traffic and collided head-on with a 1988 Honda Accord in which Vigil was a passenger. Joseph Lopez, 27, who was the Honda's driver and a co-worker of Vigil, escaped with moderate injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Kevin Vigil for their heartbreaking loss. I also pray for Lopez's quick and full recovery from his injuries.

Car Accidents Caused by Driver Fatigue

If the details of this news report are accurate, it appears that this car accident was caused by a fatigued driver. Sleepy drivers cause thousands of car crashes that result in serious personal injuries or fatalities in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2007, fatigue was involved in at least 18 percent of fatal accidents. The NHTSA also estimate that fatigue on the nation's roadways accounts for about 7 percent of all accidents. The federal agency's report titled "Tomorrow's Roads: Safer for Everyone," also identifies driver fatigue as one of the main areas of driver behavior that needs to be addressed if the target for reducing the number of serious car accidents by 40 percent, by the year 2010, is to be achieved..

Claim for Compensation

In such cases, injured victims and their families would be well-advised to contact a reputed California personal injury lawyer, who has a successful track record of holding negligent drivers accountable. Fatigued drivers, depending on the circumstances of the accident, may or may not face criminal charges.

However, injured victims may be able to seek civil remedies to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. Families of deceased car accident victims could file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for funeral expenses, lost future earnings, loss of love and companionship, and other damages.

What precautions do you take to lessen fatigue while driving?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.