Although roads may be less crowded at night, the rate of serious car accidents is often higher during nighttime hours. Daytime collisions are frequently caused by congestion or distracted drivers, but nighttime accidents tend to have different contributing factors. Drivers may take more risks, feel overconfident, or make mistakes due to poor visibility. One factor that significantly increases the risk of nighttime crashes is night blindness, a condition that makes it difficult for some people to see clearly in low-light conditions.
What Is Night Blindness?
Night blindness, also called nyctalopia, is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying vision problem. It affects hundreds of thousands of people in the United States. Night blindness can make it nearly impossible for a driver to see clearly after sunset, creating dangerous situations on the road. Common causes include:
- Vitamin A Deficiency: This nutrient is essential for producing rhodopsin, a pigment in the retina that helps the eyes adapt to low-light conditions. Without enough Vitamin A, the eyes struggle to adjust from bright to dim environments.
- Retinitis Pigmentosa: This inherited disorder gradually damages the retina, often causing difficulty seeing at night.
- Cataracts: Clouding of the eye’s lens reduces light intake, making night driving challenging.
- Glaucoma Medications: Certain medications used to treat glaucoma can impair night vision.
Even individuals without these conditions may experience nighttime vision difficulties. People with nearsightedness, astigmatism, or older age may find it harder to detect hazards in the dark.
Why Nighttime Accidents Can Be More Severe
Driving at night requires heightened awareness and quick reaction times. A driver with night blindness may not see road signs, pedestrians, or other vehicles until it is too late to respond. Because of reduced visibility, collisions at night often occur at higher speeds and can result in more severe injuries compared to daytime accidents.
Research shows that fatal car crashes are disproportionately higher at night, even though fewer people are on the road. This trend highlights how critical clear night vision is to safe driving.
Tips to Reduce Nighttime Driving Risks
Drivers can take steps to improve safety, such as:
- Keeping windshields and headlights clean.
- Ensuring corrective lenses are up to date.
- Avoiding nighttime driving when fatigued.
- Using high beams when appropriate and safe.
However, these measures may not fully protect drivers who suffer from night blindness, which is why professional evaluation is important.
Filing a Legal Claim After a Nighttime Accident
If you are injured in an accident caused by another driver’s impaired vision, you may be entitled to financial compensation. In many cases, it is not necessary to prove the driver had a diagnosed condition. Instead, it is sufficient to show that their actions were unreasonable under the circumstances. For example, a head-on collision caused by a driver being in the wrong lane may be considered negligence in itself.
Contact the Media Car Accident Lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC
If you have been involved in a car accident, contact the Media car accident lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC. Schedule a free consultation by calling 215-569-8488 or sending a message online. Our offices in Philadelphia, Abington, and Wilmington serve clients throughout the surrounding areas. There is no fee unless you win your case.