CALL 916-777-7777
Youtube Facebook-f X-twitter Linkedin-in

Drowsy Driving Caused 5,000 Deaths on American Roads Last Year

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
tired driverA new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) shows that drowsy driving is a growing problem on American roadways. Researchers found that drowsy driving caused 5,000 deaths in 2015 and there are approximately 382,000 drowsy-driving accidents every year. The report states that an estimated 83.6 million U.S. adults are chronically sleep-deprived. A third of all drivers admitted to driving within the past 30 days while they were so tired they had trouble keeping their eyes open. Drowsy-driving accidents result in roughly $109 billion in legal fees, emergency response services, insurance administration fees and other expenses. The GHSA report, titled “Wake Up Call! Understanding Drowsy Driving and What States Can Do,” was created by sleep study physicians, traffic safety administrators and other experts. The goal of the report is to educate people about the seriousness of the problem and help reduce drowsy-driving deaths.

Understanding the Severity of the Problem

The GHSA report explains that a drowsy driver is an unsafe driver. Fatigue slows reaction time, impairs judgement and awareness. Lack of sleep can also cause a driver to micro sleep —  actually doze off for a few seconds while driving. Driving while tired is similar to driving while drunk. If you have gone 18 hours without sleep, your driving impairment mimics a 0.05 blood alcohol content (BAC). If you stay awake for 21 hours, the effect is similar to driving with 0.08 BAC, which is the legal limit in all states. Drivers who are tired are 3.5 times more likely to be involved in an accident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). An analysis of data from NHTSA’s NASS Crashworthiness Data System estimates that 7% of all crashes and 16.5% of fatal crashes involved drowsy driving. Unfortunately, drivers often underestimate how tired they really are when they get behind the wheel. Some drivers think that stimulant activities like drinking caffeine, turning up the music or opening the window will help, but they often do not. There is also no way to test drivers for fatigue, so driving while tired is difficult to prevent. The report concludes that public education and fostering behavior changes are key to reducing this public health and safety threat. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, and other expenses. Contact the experienced, licensed Sacramento car accident lawyers at the Arnold Law Firm to discuss your claim.

Contact a Sacramento injury lawyer at our law firm today by calling (916) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Review.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.