How Drowsy Driving Wrecks Havoc on the Roads
Fatigued driving causes 20 percent of all traffic accidents annually and costs many people their lives. It is much less noticeable than drunk driving but shares many of the same attributes. In addition, drowsy driving often goes unreported. Learn more from our Myrtle Beach car accident lawyers about this increasingly troublesome entity and how to recognize it and avoid it.
Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers in South Carolina
At Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers, we dedicate ourselves to fighting for a client’s rights. That is true if our client was seriously injured by a drunk driver or a drowsy one. We do everything we can to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. We accomplish this with a mix of legal acumen and the tenacity it takes to win. Call us today at (843) 232-0944 or (803) 470-4444 in Aiken, to set up a free case review.
How Fatigued Driving Affects Motorists
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 91,700 fatigued driving accidents were reported by law enforcement in 2017, the last year for which data is available. Because of this, roughly 50,000 people were injured and 500 individuals died. Even with these numbers, it is believed that the statistics are vastly underestimated.
When Do the Majority of Fatigued Driving Accidents Occur?
While feeling sleepy can occur any time of the day, there are specific times and attributes that define the majority of fatigued driving accidents:
- Between 12:00 a.m and 6:00 a.m., many people feel sleepy. This is also true in the afternoon hours. In both instances, the body’s internal clock suggests rest.
- Many fatigued driving accidents occur on highways and rural roads, often due to boredom.
- Many drowsy driving accidents indicate that the single-vehicle driver ran off the road. Usually, there are no road marks showing the driver attempted to stop.
Some Reasons Fatigued Driving Occurs
Drowsy driving happens for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common are:
- Not getting enough sleep
- Working several jobs
- Conditions that cause excessive drowsiness such as sleep apnea
- Usage of a prescription to induce sleep
- Over-the-counter medications such as Benedryl that make you drowsy
How Fatigued Driving Causes Accidents
Similar to drunk driving, a fatigued driver causes accidents due to a lack of cognitive and other abilities. For instance, a fatigued driver may lack the ability to concentrate on driving and lapse into daydreaming or fall asleep behind the wheel. Fatigued drivers also have difficulty maintaining a constant speed or staying in the same lane.
Other attributes of driving while fatigued include a problem with actions that involve dexterity and a loss of focus. The fatigued driver also has poor judgment so that they are unable to tell how long they have to make a left-hand turn before another vehicle crossing an intersection reaches them.
Some Ways to Alleviate Fatigued Driving
To alleviate drowsy driving, a motorist must:
- Start out fresh in the morning.
- Take multiple breaks, preferably every two hours.
- Do the majority of the driving during daylight hours.
- Don’t travel more than 10 hours in a 24-hour period.
- Open the windows or turn on the AC if you feel drowsy.
- Pull over to the side of the road, put the flashers on, lock the doors and take a nap.
- Don’t drink alcoholic beverages.
Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers in the Myrtle Beach Area
Call Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers if you are involved in an accident with a fatigued driver. You can reach us online or on the phone at (843) 232-0944 to schedule a free case review. You can also contact us online. We will take care of insurance companies, investigate the accident to procure evidence and help you obtain compensation for medical expenses, wage loss and pain and suffering.
