Many individuals experience drowsiness at the wheel after a lack of sleep. A routine of traveling to and from work daily may cause drivers to zone out and be inattentive to changing traffic conditions. Driving while tired impairs reaction time and may result in a serious personal injury lawsuit against you.
Drivers that exhibit habits of sleepiness behind the wheel may eventually cause an accident. To prevent a personal injury lawsuit against them, drivers should always treat driving a vehicle as a life-or-death action. Everyone may be at risk of driving while tired, and everyone may be at risk for injury by a driver who has fallen asleep at the wheel.
Drowsy driving and its causes
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that driving while tired affects a driver’s ability to make quick decisions. In the last 30 days, 1 in 25 drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel. For many, lack of sleep causes extreme tiredness. Other causes of drowsy driving include:
- Personal relationship problems
- Working long hours standing or at a computer
- Drowsy medication or sleep aids
- Sleep disorders
- Alcohol consumption
A court may find drivers negligent should they admit they fell asleep at the wheel and caused an accident. Victims may bring serious claims against drowsy drivers, leaving their families with financial and emotional burdens.
Tips to protect yourself from personal injury lawsuit
To avoid causing a serious accident due to drowsiness, drivers should use prevention methods. The National Sleep Foundation suggests the following to enhance alertness behind the wheel.
Never drive after:
- Taking drowsy medication
- Getting little or no sleep
- Drinking alcohol
To stay awake, try:
- Drinking caffeine
- Traveling with another individual
- Taking a short nap before traveling
The average adult needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, but many adults get far less. Driving while drowsy impacts cognitive and physical ability, so operating a vehicle should be deemed nearly impossible in an exhausted state.
Drivers should listen to their bodies and make decisions that protect themselves, their families and innocent commuters nearby. Doing so protects these drivers from serious monetary and emotional consequences.
