What Motorists Need to Know About Drowsy Driving

Many drivers have dealt with sleepiness behind the wheel after a long day of work or on a lengthy drive. But drowsy driving is a significant problem that creates significant dangers on our roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), falling asleep at the wheel caused around 91,000 car crashes in 2017. Many of these crashes involved serious injuries, some of which left victims permanently disabled or forced to pay thousands of dollars in medical bills. Unfortunately, these accidents can also be fatal, and according to the NHTSA, 693 people were killed in 2022 due to drowsy driving. 

Our West Palm Beach injury firm has seen firsthand the devastation caused by a driver who falls asleep at the wheel. Here, we offer tips on identifying drowsy driving risks and steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe.

Who is at Risk of Drowsy Driving?

Any driver can fall asleep at the wheel. However, certain people are at a higher risk of experiencing fatigue while driving, including drivers who:

• Take medications that cause drowsiness
• Are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Must travel long distances for their jobs
• Suffer from a sleep disorder
• Must drive at night or are required to work irregular hours
• Regularly get less than six hours of sleep a night
• Often travel between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• Are required to drive regularly on rural roads

Even feeling drowsy while driving can be dangerous, as it not only makes drivers less attentive but also slows reaction time and affects a person’s decision-making abilities, all of which can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle. 

Potential Injuries

The injuries sustained in car crashes where at least one driver fell asleep at the wheel tend to be severe, which is largely attributed to the fact that drowsy drivers are usually not aware of an impending crash and so fail to hit the brakes or swerve. As a result, these types of collisions almost always occur at high speeds, making it much more likely that victims will suffer from:

• Broken or crushed knees from striking the dashboard
• Facial fractures from coming into contact with the airbag
• Severe lacerations or amputations caused by flying glass
• Broken ribs or a fractured diaphragm
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries from striking the steering wheel, window, or another object in the car
• Whiplash

Treating these kinds of catastrophic injuries often involves expensive and painful treatments, including surgery and physical therapy. The cost of treatment can quickly overwhelm a victim’s finances, making it especially important for those involved in these types of crashes to seek compensation from the at-fault party. Measuring and assessing points of impact and skid marks at the scene of the accident often plays a critical role in helping plaintiffs prove that another driver failed to brake prior to the collision and so was either driving recklessly or asleep at the wheel. 

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

Please contact Brubaker Injury Law to learn more about collecting compensation for your accident-related injuries. A dedicated member of our auto accident legal team can discuss the details of your case and how we may be able to help.