Auto Accidents Caused by Drowsy Driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 846 people were killed in auto accidents related to drowsy driving in 2014. This number was consistent with the national average of approximately 886 fatal auto accidents due to drowsy driving per year reported by the NHTSA between 2005 and 2009. During this span, the administration also reported an estimated 83,000 crashes per year that could be attributed to drowsy driving, out of which an average of 37,000 involved injuries.
Perhaps what is most frightening about these statistics is that they potentially represent just a portion of the actual number of auto accidents caused by drowsy driving each year. As the NHTSA states in its report, it is currently impossible to count the number of accidents caused by drowsy driving with absolute precision. These numbers err on the conservative side, especially when one considers that, according to a 2005 poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, 37 percent of drivers admitted to having fallen asleep behind the wheel at least once in their lives.
If you or a member of your family has been injured in an auto accident caused by a drowsy driver, or if you have tragically lost a family member in such an accident, you may be able to obtain compensation for your losses and expenses by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. When it comes to litigating claims involving auto accidents and drowsy driving, the Daytona Beach, FL attorneys of Chanfrau & Chanfrau have the skills, knowledge, and resources to handle even the most complex cases. We would be honored to provide you with the exceptional legal representation you deserve during your time of greatest need.
To arrange for an evaluation of your auto accident case, please contact the personal injury law firm of Chanfrau & Chanfrau today.
The Effects of Drowsy Driving
The effects of drinking alcohol on driving are well known. However, the effects of being tired on driving are not as well understood by the general public, a fact that the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is trying to change with a report that it released in December 2016.
According to the report, drivers who sleep just five or six hours during a 24-hour period are twice as likely to be involved in an auto accident as drivers who get seven or more hours of sleep during a 24-hour period. Drivers who sleep just four or five hours are an astonishing four times more likely to be involved in an auto accident, a rate similar to that of drunk drivers.
Jake Nelson, the director of Traffic Safety Advocacy & Research for AAA, concluded, “If you have not slept seven or more hours in a given 24-hour period, you really shouldn’t be behind the wheel of a car.”
Arrange for an Evaluation of Your Auto Accident Case
Unfortunately, many drivers who do not get adequate sleep do get behind the wheels of their cars. If you or someone you love has been injured by one of these drivers, we urge you to arrange for an evaluation of your auto accident case by contacting the law firm of Chanfrau & Chanfrau today.