Temperatures in Las Vegas have plummeted and soon the daylight hours will follow suit. The end of daylight saving time (DST) takes place on November 5, 2023 at 2:00 a.m. At this time of the year we set our clocks back one hour to “fall back.” While many people are happy with the extra hour of sleep, the change also introduces numerous potential accidents. The Las Vegas injury lawyers at ER Injury Attorneys share five causes of end of daylight saving time accidents. Armed with this knowledge, you and your family may be able to avoid certain accident injuries.
Common Causes of End of Daylight Saving Time Accidents
Different types of accidents increase during the first week or so of standard time. This is largely because people are adjusting to new patterns in sunlight and sleep. That adjustment period typically leads to more car crashes, truck accidents, motorcycle wrecks, bicycle crashes, and pedestrian accidents. After representing thousands of Las Vegas injury victims over the years, our attorneys have found that the increase in accidents is due to:
- Sleep Disruption: Even though DST ends with gaining an extra hour of sleep, that extra hour can disrupt your natural circadian rhythm, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle. As people adjust to a different sleep schedule, they may feel groggier in the morning. This can lead to car crashes caused by drowsy driving and fatigued driving.
- Reduced Visibility During Evening Drives: the end of daylight saving time means that it becomes darker earlier. For people that work 9-to-5 jobs, that means their trip home will be darker than they’re used to. The darkness can make it difficult for motorists to see pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles, increasing the risk of collisions.
- Morning Glare: while darkness coming earlier is an obvious concern, some people are unaware that the difference in sunlight patterns can lead to accidents as well. Mornings get brighter earlier in the day when DST ends and the angle of the sun is different from that of the previous week’s commute. The different angle of sunlight can cause glare that can temporarily blind drivers or limit their visibility, which can lead to automobile, motorcycle, and truck crashes.
- Pedestrian Behavior: Las Vegas temperatures are currently perfect for people that enjoy walking and other outdoor activities. However, many outdoor enthusiasts may forget to change their attire to compensate for the earlier darkness. They may forget to wear bright clothing or accessories with reflective stripes to increase their visibility to motorists. This can lead to catastrophic accidents involving pedestrians.
Contact a Las Vegas Injury Lawyer
The team at ER Injury Attorneys hopes that you and your family adjust to the change to standard time safely. We hope that the information in this blog helps you avoid any end of daylight saving time accidents. Unfortunately, some accidents will happen no matter how much information you’re armed with or how safe you’re being. If you’ve been injured in an end of daylight saving time accident caused by the negligence or recklessness of another party then contact ER Injury Attorneys for immediate assistance.
You can reach our team of accomplished and skilled Nevada injury lawyers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a free consultation. We are available by phone at 702-878-7878 and online through LiveChat or secure contact form. ER Injury Attorneys represents accident victims throughout Nevada, including Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Pahrump, Boulder City, Laughlin, and beyond. Don’t let the insurance company shortchange you on settlement money that’s rightfully yours. Give us a call today.