When the days get shorter and the nights get longer this time of year, car accidents caused by drowsy drivers become more common, especially since Daylight Saving Time recently ended and most states moved their clocks back one hour.
"We'll be doing more driving in the dark, and that's when more crashes occur," said Michelle Anderson of the National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes safe driving in materials distributed in schools and other public places nationwide.
However, some people might not realize how many car crashes are caused by drivers who fall asleep at the wheel. You also might not realize how dangerous drowsy driving is compared to other bad driving habits or what to do if you're hit and injured by someone who shouldn't have been behind the wheel to begin with.
What Makes Drowsy Driving So Dangerous?
Drowsy driving is a serious hazard on the road, with tired drivers endangering everyone around them. Here are some of the key dangers associated with driving while fatigued:
- Slower Reaction Times: Fatigued drivers often have delayed reactions to vehicles, pedestrians, or sudden road changes.
- Eyes Closed While Driving: Tired drivers may briefly nod off, closing their eyes for several seconds or longer.
- Difficulty Focusing: Fatigue can make it challenging for drivers to stay alert and aware of other vehicles or obstacles.
- Veering Off Course: Drowsy drivers frequently drift into other lanes or, worse, oncoming traffic. This often results in head-on collisions.
- Delayed Braking: Fatigued drivers often don’t slow down or brake before a collision, increasing the severity of accidents.
- Poor Decision-Making: Driving tired reduces the ability to make sound decisions in traffic.
To help people better understand just how dangerous drowsy driving can be for everyone on the road, The Sleep Foundation conducted a study that compared drowsy driving to drunk driving, which many people readily accept as a dangerous form of driving.
Because sleep deprivation is harder to define than alcohol impairment, most people don't think driving tired is that dangerous. There's also the legal aspect of drunk driving, which is against the law nationwide.
However, the data is clear – the longer someone stays awake and tries to drive, the more dangerous they are, just like drunk drivers. For example, if someone's awake for 20 consecutive hours and then tries to drive, their reaction times and hand-eye coordination are similar to someone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent, which is the legal threshold in most states for being considered legally drunk while driving.
How Common Are Drowsy Driving Accidents?
Unfortunately, accidents caused by drowsy drivers or drivers who fall asleep at the wheel are extremely common. A recent National Road Safety Foundation study found that 60 percent of drivers admitted to driving while tired. The same study revealed that 37 percent of drivers admitted to falling asleep while driving.
Here are some more eye-opening statistics about drowsy driving accidents:
- An estimated 100,000 accidents each year nationwide are caused by drowsy drivers, according to accident data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- An estimated 21 percent of fatal car accidents occur due to driver fatigue, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
- Nearly 700 deaths (693 to be exact) occurred in 2022 nationwide directly due to drowsy drivers, according to the NHTSA.
In addition, drowsy driving is especially common among teenage drivers, who often drive late at night and don't realize they're extremely tired while driving.
Are Drowsy Driving Accidents Common In Nebraska?
Like the rest of the country, many fatigued drivers in Nebraska put their lives and the lives of others at risk on the road by driving when they're too tired. For instance, between 2015 and 2019, drowsy drivers in Nebraska caused 1,577 accidents, resulting in 11 deaths and 669 injuries, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You Build a Strong Case
Car accidents involving drowsy drivers often lead to complex legal battles for several reasons. First, a drowsy driver may deny having fallen asleep or even being fatigued, making it challenging to prove fault. Without clear admissions or eyewitnesses, gathering evidence can require a deep dive into driving patterns, cellphone data, or even dashcam footage to establish signs of drowsiness before the crash.
Insurance companies can add another layer of complexity. The at-fault driver’s insurer may downplay the role fatigue played in the accident or argue that the victim’s own actions contributed to the crash. Insurance adjusters might also push for quick, low settlements to avoid dealing with potential liability issues that a drowsy driving case might expose.
To strengthen a claim, an experienced car accident attorney can gather supporting evidence like police reports, eyewitness testimonies, accident reconstruction, and even expert analysis on drowsy driving. Proving drowsiness as a factor often requires strategic legal expertise to hold the responsible party accountable and secure fair compensation for the injured party.
Contact Ausman Law Firm Today
Whatever the circumstances of your accident, our Omaha car accident attorneys at Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. can help you demand justice and accountability for your injuries. Our victories speak for themselves, including a $1.2 million recovery for a car accident injury victim.
Get the help you need to get your life back on track. Contact our law firm and schedule a free consultation with an Omaha car accident lawyer focused on fighting for the maximum compensation you deserve. We offer legal representation to injury victims on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we win your case. Give us a call or reach out to us online today to see how we can help you.
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