Drowsy Driving Is Deadly
It is late at night and you are driving home after a long day. Your eyes start to close and you are jolted awake by the rumble strips. You just survived a potentially deadly drowsy driving accident. Drowsy drivers are a common cause of preventable accidents. In 2017, 91,000 motor vehicle crashes involved drowsy driving. Drowsy driving is also deadly. That same year, drowsy driving claimed 795 lives. From 2013 to 2017, there were 4,111 fatalities in motor vehicle crashes involving drowsy driving. Below we will go over issues related to drowsy driving and tips to prevent accidents.
Even the most cautious driver can be injured in an accident. If a drowsy driver injures you or a loved one, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. The team at Anthem Injury Lawyers is experienced at handling complex personal injury issues including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and wrongful death. Our team offers you the benefit of our years of experience as car accident lawyers serving Las Vegas and vicinity. Our lawyers will relentlessly pursue your case to protect your rights vs the driver who caused the accident. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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What Is Drowsy Driving?
Drowsy driving is operating a motor vehicle while fatigued or sleepy. Driving while sleepy is dangerous for everyone on the road. Sleepy drivers:
- Have difficulty concentrating on the road.
- React slower to road hazards.
- Have trouble with decision-making.
Drowsy Driver Statistics
Fatigued driving is very common. An estimated 1 in 25 adult drivers report having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days. It is difficult to determine just how many motor vehicle accidents result from drivers falling asleep. This difficulty comes from underreporting. Fatigued driving accidents may appear to have alternate causes including overcorrecting or driver error.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a new research brief on the prevalence of drowsy driving crashes. The study suggests that drowsy drivers are involved in up to 9.5 percent of car crashes. This number is significantly higher than official statistics published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The research also found that drowsy driving is involved in nearly 11 percent of higher severity, police-reportable crashes.
Commercial Truck Drivers
Commercial truck drivers play a pivotal role in American lives and on the highways. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about many temporary, but significant changes for the trucking industry. In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an emergency declaration. The emergency declaration temporarily suspended Hours of Service (HOS) laws for drivers providing emergency relief efforts related to COVID-19.
HOS laws limit shifts and hours of consecutive driving for commercial truckers. The federal government modified HOS laws to allow drivers to quickly transport goods for COVID-19 emergency relief. Truckers should be aware that longer shifts and less sleep risk their safety and the safety of those on the road.
If you are injured in a truck accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers is a team of experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyers and case managers. If a truck driver hits your vehicle or causes you to go off the road due to their neglectful driving, you need a Las Vegas car accident lawyer who can aggressively defend your rights and get you just compensation. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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Danger Signs for Drowsy Drivers
Most drivers have felt tired on the road. There are many signs that a person is sleepy. Drivers may not recognize all of the signs. Some drivers feel awake but could fall asleep at any moment. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety provided the following Danger Signs for Drowsy Drivers. Pull off of the road as soon as possible and find a safe place to sleep if you:
- Have trouble keeping your eyes open and focused.
- Can’t keep your head up.
- Daydream or have wandering, disconnected thoughts.
- Yawn frequently.
- Rub your eyes repeatedly.
- Find yourself drifting from your lane or tailgating.
- Miss signs or drive past your exit.
- Feel irritable and restless.
- Drift off the road and hit the rumble strips.
- Are unable to remember how far you have traveled.
- Can’t remember what you have recently passed by.
Not everyone makes the safe decision to pull off the road when they are tired. If you are injured by another driver, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can help you protect your rights. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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Tips to Avoid Sleep-Related Accidents
Sleep-related accidents are preventable. If you are driving there are simple tips to help avoid driving while sleepy. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety provided the following tips to avoid driving drowsy:
- Don’t drive when you are sleepy. If you become sleepy while driving, pull over and take a break.
- Get enough sleep every night. Make sure you are well-rested the night before a long trip. Sleeping less than six hours increases your risk of falling asleep at the wheel. Sleeping less than four hours is especially dangerous.
- Do not plan to work all day and then drive all night. Plan to travel during times when you are normally awake. Choose to stay overnight rather than drive straight through.
- Travel with a passenger. An alert passenger can watch for signs of fatigue. If you have a front seat passenger, they should remain awake.
- Take a power nap. If you start to feel tired, pull off the road to park in a safe place. A safe place can be a parking lot or rest area. Never pull on to the shoulder of the road for an extended period of time. Pick a well-lit place where your car is visible to passersby. Roll up the windows, lock the doors, and lie back in the driver’s seat for 20 minutes or so. When you wake up, get some exercise and have some caffeine.
- Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles. Stop sooner if you become sleepy. Before your trip, figure out safe places to stop.
Additional Safety Tips
Other factors can contribute to falling asleep while driving. The following additional safety steps can help you stay safe on the road:
- Avoid drinking alcohol before driving. Consumption of alcohol interacts with sleepiness and increases drowsiness and impairment.
- Check prescription and over-the-counter medication labels to see if drowsiness could result from their use.
- Treat sleep disorders. Sleep apnea and other disorders impact the quality of a person’s sleep. A well-rested driver is a safe driver.
If a drowsy driver injures you in Las Vegas, contact Anthem Injury Lawyers at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
EXPERIENCED LAS VEGAS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
In Las Vegas and across the country, falling asleep at the wheel causes many car accidents per year. Has a drowsy driver injured you or a loved one? If so, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can give you legal advice and help protect your rights. Our Las Vegas legal team understands that being an accident victim can be one of the most difficult things you will ever face. As you deal with injuries and wonder how to navigate the system, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced lawyer. This is because you will want to make your claim usually within a specified timeframe. Also you may find that dealing with insurance companies can be a daunting experience. Our Las Vegas car accident lawyers can handle that for you so you can concentrate on recovering from your injuries.
Our personal injury lawyers handle all types of motor vehicle accident cases including: car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and bus accidents. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 for a free consultation. We can come to you if your injuries are too severe to allow you to visit our Las Vegas area law office.
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