Many of us lead busy lives. From work and school to family and social obligations, errands and entertainment, we spend a lot of time on the road. All of that activity can take its toll.

Driving while fatigued is incredibly dangerous. It contributes to 9.5 percent of all accidents, and “about 100,000 crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities” each year. However, because there’s no way to test for drowsiness, that number could be much higher.

Drowsy driving facts

Drowsy driving mimics the effects of alcohol. It slows the driver’s reaction time, causes them to be less attentive and can affect their decision-making ability. According to the CDC, “being awake for at least 18 hours is the same as someone having a blood content (BAC) of 0.05 percent. Being awake for at least 24 hours is equal to having a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent. This is higher than the legal limit (0.08 percent BAC) in all states.”

Driving while fatigued is insidious, especially because drivers may not realize quite how tired they are. Warning signs that you’re too tired to drive include frequent yawning, missing exits, hitting rumble strips, drifting from your lane and having trouble remembering the last few miles driven.

Because 1 in 25 adults over 18 have reported falling asleep at the wheel in the past 30 days, every driver needs to be on alert. Drowsy drivers can be on the road at any time, including drowsy commercial truck drivers.

What to do if you’re injured in a driver fatigue accident

If you’re going to be on the road, make sure that you get at least seven hours of sleep per night. Pull over or get a ride from someone else if you notice any of the warning signs above. It could save lives.

If you’re injured by a drowsy driver, call the police and seek medical attention right away. If there’s any evidence that the other driver was driving while fatigued, such as yawning, erratic driving or statements to that effect, document them as soon as possible.

Once your medical condition is stable and you’ve given a police report, call the Law Offices of Tim Misny. We can review your claim and help you understand your legal options. If the other driver was driving while fatigued, we’ll fight to make sure that they’re held responsible for their negligent behavior.

Get help with your Ohio car accident claim

Were you injured as a result of someone else’s negligence or recklessness? Whomever is responsible, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Get in touch with me at (844) 565-4350 so that I can evaluate your case as soon as possible.