Texting while driving is often used as a scapegoat for any auto accident involving a distracted driver. However, what would you think if we told you that over 60 percent of adult drivers drive while feeling drowsy? Yet the statistics don’t end there — over one third of these drivers have actually fallen asleep while driving. Scary, right? The scariest part is yet to come: four percent of people who drive while drowsy get into an auto accident, and not just any type of accident — an accident so severe it requires a lawyer.
It doesn’t matter if you’re driving in the suburbs of Salt Lake City or on the plains of the Midwest; an auto accident can happen anywhere when drowsy driving is involved. And if drowsy driving is determined to be the cause of a car crash, then a lawyer will most likely be involved in the proceedings.
1,500 Deaths and 71,000 Injuries Per Year
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there are close to 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries per year as a result of drowsy driving. And to make matters more concerning, these statistics are from police-reported crashes; in reality, the numbers are most likely much higher.
Drowsy Driving Is a Global Issue
This phenomenon isn’t just happening in Salt Lake City, however; it’s also happening around the world. Recent data from countries including Australia, England, Finland and other European nations report that 10 to 30 percent of all crashes occur as a direct result of drowsy driving.
Drowsy Driving on Par With Drunk Driving
Dealing with an auto accident is a stressful situation — however, it becomes substantially more stressful when it results in a jail sentence for the driver. Think this isn’t a possibility? According to more than one lawyer, drowsy driving can be considered on par with drunk or buzzed driving. Additionally, multi-mission settlements have been awarded to victims of accidents involving drowsy driving.
The bottom line? It doesn’t matter if you’re in Salt Lake City or the Midwest; don’t drive if you’re feeling tired — the consequences just aren’t worth it.