Fatigued Driving Accidents
More vehicles on the roads — even those traveling short distances — increases the likelihood of fender-benders and serious car crashes. In addition, extended holiday travel that involves lengthy road trips routinely results in fatigued or drowsy driving crashes that can result in serious and fatal injuries. As the holidays approach, regardless of whether you and your family plan to take an hours-long trip that requires driving a distance from home, it is important to know that there are millions of drivers on the road doing just this. For many of those drivers, long stretches of time behind the wheel, general lack of sleep, increased work hours during the holidays, and darker evenings due to daylight saving time all mean that accidents may be more likely to occur.
What should you know about drowsy or fatigued driving during the holidays? And can you file a claim if you are injured in this type of accident? Our Texas car accident attorneys can tell you more.
Most Holidays Travelers Go By Car
Holiday travel by road has long been common in Texas and throughout the country, and over the past few years, holiday highway travel has increased significantly. According to data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, there were about 107 million travelers by car on the roads during the holiday season, running from the week leading up to Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day on January 1. While travelers also reached their destinations by air and train, motor vehicle travel was by far the most common, accounting for about 90 percent of all holiday travelers.
Getting the Facts About Fatigued or Drowsy Driving
As AAA underscores, it is crucial to get enough rest before you embark on any holiday road trip, and it is also essential to take regular breaks behind the wheel. To be sure, “driving on 4-5 hours of sleep is as dangerous as driving with a 0.08 BAC,” the AAA Foundation emphasizes, and when a motorist gets less than 4 hours of sleep the night before driving, “the risk doubles.”
Heavy meals can also increase fatigue, including roadside lunches and dinners. Motorists should also be aware that certain medications can increase fatigue and that you should never drink alcohol while driving an extended distance, even just one beer or glass of wine. In addition, motorists should avoid driving overnight or at other times when they are usually sleeping — a fatigued driving crash is much more likely during these hours.
When a drowsy driver does cause a crash, that motorist can be liable for any injuries resulting from the accident.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Serving Clients in Texas
Nobody expects to be involved in a serious motor vehicle collision during holiday travel, yet these types of accidents happen more often than most of us want to consider. If you were injured in a crash that resulted from another driver’s negligence, including drowsy or fatigued driving, it is important to find out more about filing a claim. An experienced Texas car accident lawyer at John Reed, Attorney at Law can help you to move forward with a claim for financial compensation. Contact us today for assistance with your case.
Sources:
newsroom.aaa.com/2024/12/year-end-forecast/
nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drowsy-driving
