Drowsiness is a common yet commonly unknown cause of auto accidents. Drowsiness can limit a driver’s ability to make safe judgments, impair their vision and slow down their reaction speed.
It is hard to estimate whether a car accident was caused by drowsiness because many drivers experience adrenaline after a collision. However, certain clues help investigators determine whether an auto accident was caused by drowsiness. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that nearly 91,000 reported cases of auto accidents were caused by drowsiness in the past few years, 50,000 of these accidents resulted in injuries and 800 were fatal.
There are many reasons why drowsy driving accidents happen, such as medical conditions and exhaustion. Here is how drivers can combat drowsiness:
Get a good night’s rest
Many people do not get enough sleep. One of the best methods that can help drivers combat drowsiness is getting a good night’s rest. Many doctors recommend that people get about 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. The number of hours people should sleep often depends on age and medical factors.
Drink coffee
Coffee and other caffeinated drinks can give people temporary boosts of energy and alertness. Drinks like coffee can increase the activity of the brain by inhibiting sleep-promoting receptors. However, caffeinated drinks do not work the same on everyone, and some people may not be affected at all.
Understand medication side-effects
Some medications have side effects that cause sleepiness. Before drivers use prescription or over-the-counter drugs, they should be aware of how it may affect them.
When a driver becomes sleepy, they may risk causing auto accidents. Victims can pursue liable parties for damages in an auto accident claim.
