If you come across a drowsy driver on the road, they could cause a serious accident that leaves you with a debilitating injury. Driver fatigue is far too common, and many drivers do not recognize how dangerous it is to get behind the wheel when they struggle with fatigue. Unfortunately, many drowsy drivers take to the road because they have to go to work or take care of other important responsibilities, without realizing the extent to which fatigue impacts their driving abilities.
Drivers who cause an accident as a result of excessive fatigue must answer for the aftermath of a collision.
How many accidents involve drowsy driving?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that based on their estimates, drowsy drivers played a role in 91,000 traffic accidents reported to law enforcement over the course of 2017. Moreover, the NHTSA also notes that determining the exact number of drowsy driving accidents is impossible, and experts believe that this figure does not reflect the full scope of the problem.
How many people suffer injuries in drowsy driving crashes?
Based on data from 2017, the NHTSA estimates that over the course of the year, 50,000 people sustained injuries as a result of collisions involving drowsy drivers. Moreover, almost 800 fatalities occurred due to traffic crashes involving drowsy drivers in 2017.
Data shows that drowsy driving crashes often take place on rural highways and roads in rural locations. The risk of these accidents is especially high from 12 AM to 6 AM, as well as in the late afternoon. If a drowsy driving accident left you injured, go over the details of the incident carefully.
