Drowsy driving increases risks of driving accidents

Most people are very aware of the dangers drinking or texting and driving, but many are not as cognizant of the dangers of driving when they are tired. On Nov. 6, there was a fatal crash in Mascoutah, Missouri, that may have been the result of driver fatigue, according to authorities. Earlier that same week, there was accident in Monroe County where a sleep-deprived driver allegedly lost control of her car. A driver of a commuter train supposedly fell asleep in a separate Chicago incident, injuring 30 people.

About 21 percent of all fatal automobile crashes are thought to involve a sleep-deprived driver, and about one-third of total crashes involve drivers who are fatigued. According to a National Sleep Foundation poll, one in 10 drivers between the ages of 16 and 45 admitted to driving at least once a week while tired in 2011.

Driving while sleep-deprived can cause slower reaction times, lapses in judgment, slower information processing and problems with vision. According to additional studies, driving after being awake for more than 20 hours is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol content level of .08 percent.

If a person finds themselves in a situation where they or someone they love has been injured due to another driver’s negligence, they may want to consider the potential benefits of filing a claim for personal injury. This type of petition is intended to alleviate the financial and emotional loss that a person can experience due to injury or due to the death of a loved one. Consulting an attorney who is familiar with accident claims and personal injury may be a good course of action. They can potentially provide support and guidance in a difficult and stressful time.

Source: National Sleep Foundation, ‘National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week Provides Tips to Prevent One in Six Traffic Fatalities ‘, Nov. 4, 2011

Source: KMOV, “Sleep deprivation giving rise to more automobile accidents”, Ruella Rouf, November 06, 2014