What Should You Do After A Car Accident Due To Drowsy Driving?
Have you or a loved one experienced a car accident due to drowsy driving? Contact Malloy Law Offices, LLC today!
The most dangerous time to drive is at night because darkness impairs vision. Over 100 million people have fallen asleep behind the wheel at night due to drowsiness and have caused over a total of 4 million accidents in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported back in 2019, there were 697 fatalities in motor vehicle crashes that involved drowsy driving. Additionally, drowsy driving fatalities were 1.9 percent of total driving fatalities in the year 2019.
Top Factors Associated With Drowsy Driving Accidents
It is very important that we all get a good amount of sleep in order to function to do specific everyday tasks. Lack of sleep can cause negative outcomes such as impaired cognition and performance, motor vehicle crashes, workplace accidents, and health conditions. Top factors that are commonly associated with drowsy-driving car crashes:
- occur most frequently between midnight and 6:00am or late in the afternoon
- often involve only a single driver
- frequently occur on rural roads and highways
Medications That Can Cause Drowsy Driving
There are also medications and prescriptions that may affect one’s drowsiness when they’re on the road:
- Pain relievers
- Prescription drugs for anxiety
- Anti-seizure drugs
- Antipsychotic drugs
- Some antidepressants
- Products containing Codeine
- Some cold remedies and allergy products
- Sleeping pills
- Muscle relaxants
Tips To Avoid Sleeping On The Wheel
Here are couple tips to avoid drowsy driving:
- Get a good 7-8 hours of sleep
- Avoid driving during the peak sleepiness periods (midnight – 6 a.m. and late afternoon)
- Check prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines before hand and see if they don’t cause any drowsiness side effect
- If you are taking any prescriptions, take public transportation to be safe
- If you feel like you’re falling asleep on the wheel, pull over and take a nap or stay at the nearest resting facility
How Can Our Attorneys Help?
There are many ways to prevent yourself from sleeping on the wheel. In addition, the best solution is to get a good night sleep. If you or a loved one has been in an accident, we can help bring you out of the darkness. Let us find a solution for you. Click here to see how our attorneys handle these scenarios. You can also call (888) 607-8690 for a free consultation.