Perhaps you were injured in a car crash with a drowsy driver here in Hayward, California. Perhaps you were in a situation with a Lyft or Uber driver; it’s well-known that ridesharing drivers are especially prone to work even while drowsy. Whatever happened, there is no denying that drowsy driving is a serious form of negligence. And it’s all too common.
What AAA says about drowsy driving
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, there are an estimated 328,000 distracted driving crashes every year in this country, 109,000 of which result in injury and 6,400 of which end in fatality. It claims that these crashes are 350% more prevalent than official numbers may lead one to believe.
Health effects of drowsy driving
Adults need at least seven hours of sleep a day, says the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. If they don’t achieve this, then they are liable to drive inattentively. Drowsiness also impairs drivers’ ability to judge and react to whatever is in front of them.
Drowsy driving and drunk driving are similar in their effects. To go without sleep for 20 continuous hours is like having a blood alcohol concentration of .08: the legal limit for drivers.
Interventions for drowsy driving
Fifty percent or more of all drivers in drowsy driving crashes are under 25, so parents and universities are often encouraged to intervene for the safety of drivers in this age group. Parents and teens can come up with a driving agreement that includes a rule on drowsiness. Universities can set up educational programs to instill healthy behaviors, as can employers.
Another way to prevent drowsy driving crashes is through technology. Crash avoidance technologies like lane departure warning and drowsiness alerts can be of great benefit.
A lawyer to serve accident victims
Victims in car accidents can often seek compensation for both monetary and non-monetary losses. To see if you can do so against the other driver or against the driver you were riding with, you may set up a legal evaluation. A lawyer may handle everything from the gathering of proof to the negotiating of a settlement.