Everyone understands the affect drinking and driving and texting while driving have on your ability to operate a vehicle. However, many people do not realize that driving while sleep deprived can be just as dangerous. A new study by AAA ( American Automobile Association) found that drivers with less than five hours of sleep are at an elevated risk of being involved in an auto accidents. The study found that in some instances driving while tired is comparable to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher. In fact, drivers with less than five hours of sleep are four times more likely to get involved in accident. If the driver gets less than 4 hours of sleep that number jumps to 12 times more likely. Many times, the effect of the lack of sleep is a delayed reaction time. This delayed reaction time is like the reaction time of a drunk driver.
How dangerous is driving while tired exactly? The study found that approximately 21% of all auto fatalities involve a drowsy driver. Typically these crashes are singe vehicle accidents where the driver loses control after dozing off. These accidents can be avoided and many times could be worse.
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The Mayo Clinic advises that adults (18 years and older) need between seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Men are much more likely to drive when they have not gotten the recommended amount of sleep.
People know they need to use a DD after drinking and to put the phone down while driving, but they need to make sure they are getting enough sleep before getting behind the wheel. The decisions we make before driving affect our ability to drive safely and the safety of the roads we drive on.
If anyone you know is a victim of an accident caused by drowsy driver, please let our law firm help you get the recovery you deserve.
During this difficult time, we will help you receive the maximum compensation allowed by law and we will assist you through every step of the case. Our team of lawyers works with medical professionals, valuation experts, technical experts and other lawyers. If you or a loved one suffered an injury or a death, please call us at (863) 299-1962.
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