Fatigue impairs driving ability and contributes to traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates falling asleep while driving caused an estimated 91,000 police-reported crashes a year according to the most recently reported data. Of those, around 50,000 people were injured and around 800 died.
Investigators say it’s hard to nail down exact figures, because the at-fault driver is often hesitant to admit their drowsiness contributed to the wreck. There are often clues, but connecting them often takes a seasoned pair of eyes and a focused inquiry. If you were involved in an accident where the other driver admitted drowsy driving, or you suspect them falling asleep while driving was the cause, this article is for you.
U.S. Crashes and Fatalities from Falling Asleep While Driving
NHTSA data relies on police reports and hospital records to develop statistics. Of those they included in their results, they noticed these three common factors:
⦁ Drowsy driving crashes and fatalities happen most often between midnight and 6 a.m., or late in the afternoon, both times when the body’s internal clock makes people more susceptible to falling asleep.
⦁ Often, falling asleep while driving causes a single driver to depart from their lane and run off the road without altering speed or braking. Most of the time they are driving alone, with no passengers to help keep them alert.
⦁ Location matters. Most drowsy driving fatalities and crashes happen on rural roads and late night highways.
Why People Fall Asleep While Driving
As a society, we don’t get enough sleep. There are a lot of reasons we spend so much on energy drinks and designer coffee, but sooner or later, the body’s need for sleep takes over.
Sometimes new parents are exhausted from getting up every few hours with an infant. Drivers spend long hours at work under high stress, and it makes them fatigued, especially if they work the night shift. During the holidays people have more social obligations and less time for sleep.
Commercial vehicle drivers sometimes stay on the road far longer than they should to meet deadlines. And, there’s always the irresponsible driver who stays too late, drinks too much, and experiences the associated impaired cognition on the way home.
Signs the Other Driver Might Have Fallen Asleep While Driving
Drowsy driving makes it harder to pay attention to the road, make informed decisions, and react quickly to avoid an accident. If someone hit you and you think they might have fallen asleep while driving, you might also have noticed the following at the scene:
⦁ The driver veered from his or her lane for no apparent reason and didn’t brake or change speed
⦁ There were no skid marks to show the driver was aware of an impending accident
⦁ The other driver seemed confused and disoriented
⦁ Signs of intoxication or impairment
⦁ There was evidence of a long trip in the vehicle like energy drinks, empty coffee cups, roadmaps, or empty food containers
Always call the police if you have a car accident, even if it seems minor. If you are able, take photographs of the scene, the other vehicle, items you can see inside, the absence or presence of skid marks, and any other factors that could be evidence. When you finish, take a video to capture anything you might have missed.
Drowsy Driving and Personal Injury Claims
Bodily injury damages can include things like ambulance costs, doctor and hospital bills, payment for days off work, pain and suffering, and payment for mental health treatment. The repercussions of another driver falling asleep while driving can be horrific, and sometimes victims also suffer from emotional distress and trauma, and they deserve compensation for that as well.
Working with a personal injury attorney can increase your compensation. If there’s any question your accident happened because of the other driver’s negligence, Monsour Law Firm attorneys are experts at gathering evidence, police reports, witness statements, expert medical testimony and other material to support your claim. We can also use discovery tactics and subpoenas if necessary to gather commercial driving records if you were hit by a truck driver or anyone else with a commercial driver’s license who fell asleep on the job.
You don’t have to pay to find out more about your possible personal injury claim, and you don’t have to commit to hiring our attorneys. A consultation is free, and you never pay us a thing unless we reach a settlement you’re happy with. Schedule your initial consultation today.
