Driving when you are extra tired is never a good idea. It’s simply too easy to not be aware and respond enough or to even fall asleep at the wheel. Driving tired can be irresponsible and lead to car accidents on the road. Drowsiness behind the wheel is a common cause for many of the car accident injuries and fatalities that occur every year.
There are some staggering statistics behind driving drowsy. The CDC, or Center for Disease Control and Prevention, reported results of a survey that say 1 out of 25 drivers reported falling asleep while driving in the past 30 days of the survey alone. Imagine what that means every day for tired drivers on the road!
If you or a loved one have been in an accident caused by a drowsy driver, you may have cause for a lawsuit to receive compensation. Hire a Louisville car accident attorney to find out more about your options.
The Risks of Driving Drowsy
Driving drowsy affects everyone around you, and can cause major hazards on the road. Even dozing off for a few seconds can lead to tragic results. These are some of the biggest risks of drowsy drivers on the road.
- Slower reaction times
- Reduced attentiveness
- Inability to make sound decisions
- Falling asleep
It’s simply not worth the risk to drive when you are tired. In fact, the effects have been compared to drunk driving.
Drunk Driving and Drowsy Driving Comparison
When you look at how driving drowsy affects reflects and the ability to pay attention or respond quickly on the road, it is very similar to that of drunk driving. According to studies, when a person drives for 18 hours or more without sleeping, their responsiveness and ability to react is almost the same as an individual with a blood alcohol level of .05%.
In just a few hours and more than 24 hours of no sleep, your reflexes become the same as someone with a blood alcohol level of .10%. You will be more susceptible to causing an accident simply because you can’t react or respond well on the road at this point.
It’s far better to pull over and rest or get some sleep and avoid driving.
What Do You Do to Avoid Drowsy Driving?
The best thing you can do is acknowledge when you are tired. If you feel drowsy, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. If you know that you haven’t slept at least 7 hours in the past 18-24 hours, you shouldn’t be driving. Even when you lose sleep for medical conditions, be aware of the risks of getting behind the while.
All too often, we get behind the wheel when we are drowsy or tired and this is incredibly dangerous. You may get lucky, but it’s all too easy for the drowsy driver to cause an accident that leads to serious injuries or even a fatality.
Get Help if You’ve Been in an Accident with a Drowsy Driver
If you are injured in an accident because of someone driving drowsy, their behavior was negligent. You could be eligible for compensation for your injuries. The best thing you can do is contact a Louisville car accident attorney to go over your options. An experienced attorney will help you understand your options and walk through any legal processes to start a claim or a suit to get you paid.
