Feeling tired has become so commonplace that many of us don’t fully know or appreciate the full extent of it, at times. To add to our lack of awareness of how tired we are, many of us drink coffee, tea, and energy drinks throughout the day in order to feel more alert. People are busier and more overextended than ever before, and they are sleeping fewer hours than their bodies require on a regular basis. Chronic sleep deprivation has become such a problem for so many people that we sometimes hear news stories about how sleeping too little can harm our health. As terrible as the health effects of not getting enough rest can be, it is important that people understand that there are additional dangers associated with being sleep-deprived.
Lack of sleep, even in situations where it is not chronic, increases the risk of automobile accidents. The number of accidents caused by drowsy drivers has been steadily increasing, as the amount of rest that people are getting has decreased over time. In the United States, approximately forty thousand people are injured and over fifteen hundred are killed each year in accidents caused by overtired drivers.
One sobering fact about driving while you are tired is that doing so can be just as dangerous as drinking and driving. Lack of sleep impairs judgment, slows reaction time, and decreases awareness, all of which can cause drivers to get into accidents. Some drivers stay awake by drinking coffee or energy drinks, chewing gum, or turning on the air conditioner, but these strategies only work for a little while, especially for drivers who are suffering from extreme levels of fatigue. Even worse, drivers who do these things often feel as though they are more alert than they actually are, so they may still be tired enough to cause an accident.
Single-vehicle accidents where the driver is not intoxicated are often found to have been caused by drowsiness, especially in case where there are fatalities or serious injuries. When the drivers of commercial vehicles hit the road with too little sleep, the stakes are even higher (remember hearing about the Tracy Morgan accident?). Trucking accidents can cause serious injuries and fatalities, just like other types of motor vehicle accidents, as well as massive amounts of property damage.
Barrett Law PLLC: Top Quality Legal Representation for the Victims of Mississippi Car Accidents
Tired drivers endanger their own lives as well as the lives of others when they get behind the wheel. If you were hurt in an accident that was caused by a drowsy driver, or if you have lost someone you love in a drowsy driving accident, contact a Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorney right away. The Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC will work hard to help you obtain the financial recovery that you deserve. Call the compassionate and dedicated automobile accident attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (800) 707-9577, to schedule your free consultation.