How did you sleep? What’s that? The baby kept you awake all night? Welcome to the world of parenting. Becoming a parent can bring a lot of joy, but it can play havoc with your sleep.
Driving while tired is dangerous. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that drowsy driving makes you three times more likely to have an accident. Other studies consider the risk may be significantly more. If you are a new parent, the chances that you are tired while driving are high.
You probably laughed about babies making people tired before you became a parent. Laughed at the young fathers with rings under their eyes staring into space as you tried to explain something to them, or the new mothers falling asleep on their keyboard. Being exhausted in the office is one thing; doing so while driving is another.
If you need to drive places and have not had much sleep due to your baby, you must assess if you are safe to do so. While it may be vitally important that you go to work or the store or an appointment, you cannot afford to put your life and that of others at risk by driving when you are exhausted.
If you have a car crash when tired, this does not necessarily mean it was your fault. The other driver or their insurance company may try to blame the crash on you when they discover you have a newborn baby. The other driver may have been distracted or drunk, or they too may have been fatigued. Seek legal help to claim the compensation you need for your injuries.