Beware the Dangers of Drowsy Driving

It’s no secret that driving is a dangerous endeavor. Far too often motorists are inattentive, intoxicated, or drowsy behind the wheel. The devastation caused by negligent driving is undeniable, too. Victims of car accidents can face enormous damages that are physical, emotional, and financial in nature. Making matters worse is the fact that many people fail to recognize the impact of their poor driving decisions, which just leads to more pain and devastation. Let’s take a look at drowsy driving as an example.

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving is deadly. In fact, it’s estimated that about 800 deaths occur each year as a result of drowsy driving. Another 50,000 people are injured each year in these wrecks. Yet, many experts agree that even these numbers are probably an underestimate of reality. The problem is that it’s hard to determine when fatigue has caused an accident because there’s no test for it like there is drugs and alcohol. Therefore, the true numbers are likely underreported.

There are periods of time that are riskier than others when it comes to exposure to drowsy driving. Research has shown that drowsy driving accidents are much more likely to occur between midnight and 6 a.m., as well as late in the afternoon. Although there are things that drivers can do to prevent falling asleep behind the wheel during these times, the sad reality is that many drivers fail to ensure their alertness until it’s too late.

What Does This Mean for You?

It means that you shouldn’t just chalk an accident up to bad luck, especially if you’ve been injured. Instead, you should look into all possibilities, including that your accident was caused by a fatigued driver. By looking closely at the evidence, you might be able to develop a negligence claim that could ultimately lead to the recovery of compensation. If you think that you could benefit from legal assistance as you analyze and build your case, then it might be time to sit down with an attorney of your choosing to discuss your set of circumstances.