Drowsy Driving As Likely to Cause a Serious Florida Car Wreck as Drunk Driving
Driving while severely sleep-deprived is nearly as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol, the Florida Times-Union reported April 1. The story was not an April Fool’s joke -- it included the history behind a January 2006 North Florida trucking accident that killed seven children. The truck driver admitted to falling asleep at the wheel after 34 hours awake; he rear-ended a family’s car, causing it to burst into flames and killing all of the seven children aboard. The driver, who admitted at the scene that he fell asleep, is now in prison.
Unfortunately, the article said, most drivers involved in sleepy driving accidents don’t admit they fell asleep, which makes it difficult for authorities to track how many accidents are caused by drowsy driving. But according to the article, the National Sleep Foundation reports that 54% of adults have driven while sleepy. Another expert, Joseph Kaplan of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Mayo Clinic, said about 40% of Americans get less than seven hours a night. And in many cases, a medical problem like insomnia or sleep apnea can deprive people of sleep, sometimes before they realize it.
As a Fort Lauderdale auto accident lawyer, I am interested in this issue in part because I believe it’s a widespread problem. Many people who wouldn’t dream of driving drunk don’t see a serious safety risk from driving after they have been up for hours and hours. In fact, at least one study have shown that sleepiness and alcohol consumption have very similar effects on human reaction times and driving performance. Other studies have shown an increased risk of serious accidents when driving while sleepy. And as a Miami semi truck accident attorney, I have read about many incidents in which a truck driver literally fell asleep at the wheel after too many hours awake and driving.
Only New Jersey has a law enhancing potential charges for people who cause an accident with drowsy driving. But I believe that all states could benefit from making sleepy driving a priority for both driver education and enforcement. Traffic accidents are catastrophic events causing wrongful deaths, brain injuries, paralysis and other devastating injuries. If drowsy driving leaves you just as impaired as drunk driving, choosing to drive drowsy is an irresponsible and potentially deadly choice.
If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt in a car crash caused by this kind of bad choice, you have rights in Florida. That includes the right to pursue justice and financial compensation through a Broward County car accident claim. My firm, Cohn, Smith & Cohn, represents people throughout South Florida in these claims, and we offer free, confidential consultations -- so there’s no risk in talking to us about your rights and your case. To set up a consultation, please contact us online today or call our main Pembroke Pines office at (954) 431-8100.
