According to Consumer Reports, as many as a third of people have admitted to driving while fatigued. Fatigued driving is any kind of driving that takes place when a person might be having difficulty staying awake or when a person may be tired. A factor that could be contributing to drowsy driving is the more frequent use of prescription and non-prescription sleep medication among the general public. Who is most likely to drive while drowsy? According to the Centers for Disease Control, commercial drivers like truck drivers, shift workers (those who work overnight), drivers with sleep disorders who may not be getting treatment, and sleep medication users may all be at higher risk of driving while fatigued. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that in 2017 alone, 795 people were killed in fatigued driving accidents. Yet, these numbers may not accurately reflect the number of people who have been killed or hurt in drowsy driving accidents. According to one industry veteran who spoke to the New York Times, as many as 70% of truck accidents may be the result of fatigued driving. While the causes of the crash might be listed as lane drifting, rear-end collision, or another factor, the real cause of the accident might have been the result of a driver’s slower reaction time due to fatigue.

Drowsy driving can be challenging to identify because there is no roadside test that can be administered after a crash to determine whether a driver might have been sleepy while behind the wheel. When truck accidents take place, officials can review the truck driver’s logs to determine how long the driver has been on the road and to determine whether the driver violated hours of service laws. Determining whether a passenger vehicle driver was drowsy can be more challenging, but not impossible. For example, a car accident lawyer can look at whether the driver just finished a long shift at work, or can look to see if the driver was on a long road trip. A car accident lawyer can also investigate to see whether the driver might have been taking prescription sleep medication. All of these factors can impact a driver’s alertness.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a car accident in Houma, Louisiana, you may be facing a range of new challenges. Car accident injuries can leave victims disabled or seriously injured. Individuals and families might be facing unexpected medical bills, lost wages due to missed time from work, and other challenges. If a fatigued driver or if a driver’s neglect or negligence resulted in your crash, you may have the right to seek damages under the law. The Doyle Law Firm is a Houma, Louisiana car accident law firm that may be able to assist you with your claim.

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

The dangers of drowsy driving are very real and very significant. In fact, driving while tired can be just as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control, getting behind the wheel after 17 consecutive hours awake can result in the same kind of impairment that a person with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 would experience. And driving after 24 consecutive hours awake can result in the same kind of impairment that a person with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 would experience. Drowsy driving can leave individuals with slower reaction times, can result in impaired judgement, and can interfere with a driver’s fine motor skills.

If you or someone you love was hurt because of another driver’s neglect or negligence, you may have the right to seek damages under the law. The Doyle Law Firm is a Houma, Louisiana car accident law firm that can investigate the causes of your crash, identify negligent parties, estimate the value of your claim, and fight to help you get the settlement you may deserve. Have questions? Reach out to the Doyle Law Firm today.

Justice for Car Accident Victims

As more people become aware of the dangers of drowsy driving, more individuals who are hurt in these accidents will likely speak up and fight back. Better technology makes it easier than ever to determine whether a person might have been tired behind the wheel. And better technology can even warn a driver when he or she might be too tired to drive. Have you been recently hurt in a car accident? You are not alone. The Doyle Law Firm is a car accident law firm in Houma, Louisiana that may be able to assist you with your claim. However, you may only have a limited amount of time to seek damages under the law. Reach out to the Doyle Law Firm today or connect with USAttorneys.com to get matched with the attorney at the Doyle Law Firm.