While most motorists are well aware of the inherent risk posed by intoxicated and distracted drivers, drowsy driving receives much less attention. Despite the devastating impact of severe fatigue and drowsiness on the physical and mental skills needed to safely operate a motor vehicle, the issue of drowsy driving has been largely ignored by lawmakers. The expansive use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that promote drowsiness threatens to make the problem even worse.
Drowsy driving accounts for a significant number of serious crashes that cause debilitating injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, broken bones/fractures, internal organ damage, and even fatalities. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 100,000 crashes occur every year that involve sleep deprivation as a factor. The National Sleep Foundation reports that sleep-deprived drivers account for approximately 1,550 fatalities and 71,000 injuries annually. The organization also reports the economic cost associated with these crashes exceeds $12.5 billion annually.
While this number is significant, the number of drowsy driving accidents might be significantly understated based on a number of factors:
- Multiple Causal Factors: Sleep deprivation is often ignored as a secondary factor that plays a role in causing crashes. Many drivers who have been using drugs or alcohol, for example, fall asleep behind the wheel, but substance impairment rather than fatigue is documented as the cause of the collision.
- Inaccurate State Reporting Systems: While states have adopted fairly standardized techniques for reporting the causes of accidents, these systems are not effective for drowsy driving. States tend to have different reporting systems for this type of unsafe driving practice with some states not even documenting sleep deprivation as a potential cause of an accident.
- Lack of Objective Testing: When drivers are operating motor vehicles under the influence of intoxicants like drugs or alcohol, there are objective tests that can be applied, such as a chemical test of blood, breath or urine. There is no comparable test to determine if a driver was falling asleep behind the wheel.
- Inherent Self-Reporting Issues: Drivers cannot be expected to accurately self-report drowsiness as a factor in causing an injury accident or fatal collision because of concerns about civil and criminal liability.
Along with these factors that complicate attempts to get an accurate fix on the scope of the drowsy driving epidemic in the U.S., evidence from other countries with better reporting systems suggest the problem could be as significant as drunk driving. A study that evaluated crash data involving collisions in a number of European counties found that drowsy driving could be a factor in as many as thirty percent of all collisions. While this estimate might seem alarmingly high, a study conducted by the organization Sleep in America found that 27 percent of participants admitted to commuting to work when drowsy at least a few times per month.
If you have been injured by a drowsy driver, you might have the legal right to financial compensation for injuries caused by this unsafe driving practice. At Barrett Law, our seasoned Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys understand car accident victims often feel overwhelmed, and we are here to help. Contact our firm today at 800.707.9577 to schedule your free consultation, so we can answer any questions you may have regarding pursuing a car accident claim.