How Drowsy Driving Can Be Dangerous

 Posted on January 31, 2018 in Car Accidents

For many Americans, it is important to have a car to drive places. Being able to say that you can drive can be exciting enough, until you get feel drowsy behind the wheel. Car accidents as a result of sleeping behind the wheel are all too common, and these accidents have caused serious injury and even death. It is important to take action when you feel drowsy behind the wheel, so you can prevent a car accident more easily.

Drowsy Driving Statistics

Drivers who do not get enough sleep or have other outlying medical problems are most likely to drive while drowsy and potentially cause a car accident. Other drivers more likely to drive while drowsy include commercial drivers who have to cover a huge part of the United States in their driving route, drivers who work night shifts or long shifts, drivers with sleep apnea, and drivers who use medications to help them sleep better. 

If a person is driving while drowsy, he or she is often less able to pay attention to the road, has slower reaction time if there is a need to suddenly slow down or steer, and has less ability to make good decisions when on the road. 

Nearly one out of 25 adult drivers has fallen asleep while driving every month. In 2013, drowsy driving caused approximately 72,000 car accidents, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths, which could easily have been prevented. However, there is a possibility that as many as 6,000 car accidents causing deaths have been due to drowsy driving.

How Do I Know if I am Driving Drowsy?

Yawning or blinking often is a main indicator of potential drowsy driving. Some other determining factors of drowsy driving include, but are certainly not limited to difficulty remembering the past few miles driven, missing the exit or road, weaving lanes, and hitting the shoulder of the road.

Call a Will County Personal Injury Lawyer

It is important to stay alert behind the wheel in order to prevent a car accident from occurring. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, you do not have to fight the legal battle alone. You can count on Flaherty Law, LLC for effective legal representation, as our experienced Plainfield IL personal injury attorneys have over ten years of experience representing clients in car accident and injury matters. For a free initial consultation, please call 815-577-7500 to get the help you deserve.

Source:

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