If you feel very tired and you need to drive somewhere, it is essential to make sure that drowsiness will not interfere with your ability to stay focused and safe. Sometimes, this means staying off the road until you have rested. Regrettably, many drivers try to operate a vehicle regardless of the drowsiness they are struggling with, and this can lead to a serious collision.
Every year, many people suffer significant injuries that turn their lives upside down due to drowsy drivers, and some of these accidents lead to lost lives.
Data on drowsy driving accidents
On their website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention goes over various issues on drowsy driving. The CDC states that based on estimates, 1 out of every 25 drivers who are 18 and older report falling asleep behind the wheel within the last 30 days. Furthermore, the CDC references data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which estimates that drowsy driving resulted in almost 800 fatalities and 50,000 injuries in 2017.
Tragically, the CDC notes that these figures do not reflect the actual number of crashes and that as many as 6,000 deadly drowsy driving accidents could take place every year.
Risk factors that lead to drowsy driving
The CDC also goes over various risk factors associated with driver fatigue. Sleep disorders, working difficult shifts, driving for long periods of time and even a single night of poor sleep can lead to dangerous drowsiness behind the wheel. Certain medications can also make drivers drowsy.
If you are struggling with debilitating injuries because a drowsy driver hit you, you need to develop a solid understanding of your legal options.