Drowsy Driving Can Lead to Dangerous Car Accidents

 Posted on June 28, 2018 in Personal Injury

Most people spend time on the road each day, and driving is such a habitual activity that the dangers are often forgotten. However, it is important to remember that anyone who gets behind the wheel has a duty to protect the safety of those who use the road. Unfortunately, drivers can neglect this duty and act in a manner that puts themselves and others in danger. One of the most common ways that people do so is driving while drowsy, which can lead to serious and often fatal car accidents.

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that around 800 fatalities occur in the United States every year due to drowsy driving. However, other studies have suggested that the problem is even more widespread, and fatigued driving may be a factor in as many as 1.2 million car accidents every year, leading to up to 8,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries.

While falling asleep at the wheel is the most obvious problem that can occur due to drowsy driving, operating a vehicle while fatigued presents a variety of other dangers? Drowsy drivers have slower reaction times, and they may have trouble paying attention to what is happening on the road around them. In fact, studies have shown that driving after only getting four to five hours of sleep in a 24 hour period is comparable to driving while legally intoxicated by alcohol.

People drive while fatigued for a variety of reasons, but those who are most likely to do so include:

• Commercial truck drivers who operate their vehicles for long periods of time;People who work long shifts or night shifts;
• People with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or insomnia; and
• People who use medications that cause drowsiness or who improperly mix medications with other drugs or alcohol. 

Drivers should take steps to avoid operating a vehicle while fatigued. They can ensure that they do not endanger themselves or others by getting enough sleep, avoiding drinking any amount of alcohol before driving, and watching for signs of drowsiness (such as yawning, missing turns or exits, or drifting out of one’s lane).

Contact a Milwaukee, WI, Car Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in a car accident that was caused by a drowsy driver, contact our Milwaukee personal injury lawyers today. We will work with you to investigate the circumstances of your accident and demonstrate that your injuries were a result of a driver’s negligence, thus helping you recover the compensation you deserve. Call Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP at 414-271-1440 to schedule a consultation.

Sources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drowsy-driving

https://www.cdc.gov/features/dsdrowsydriving/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/aaa-study-drowsy-driving-dangers-comparable-to-drunk-driving/