We hear about fatal vehicle accidents all the time. However, the specific circumstances surrounding these accidents are often unrevealed.
Those suffering from driver fatigue are three times more likely to be involved in a crash.
On July 28 specifically, a preliminary investigation into a fatal crash that occurred on Louisiana Highway 159 north of Highway 2 revealed that the accident was most likely due to fatigue at the wheel, as fatigued drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a crash.
Prevalence
According to National Sleep Foundation’s poll, at least 60 percent of adult drivers say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and more than a third have actually fallen asleep at the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 100,000 reported crashes each year are the direct result of driver fatigue, resulting in thousands of injuries and deaths.
Specifically, sleep-related crashes are most common in:
- Adults between 18-29 years old;
- Men;
- Adults with children in the household;
- Shift workers;
- People who get less than eight hours of sleep per night; and
- People who have been awake for 18 hours (such as truck drivers on shifts).
Most fatigue-related crashes occur between 4-6am; midnight – 2am; and 2-4pm.
Negligence
Not only can driving while fatigued result in serious injuries and/or death to those on the road, but lawsuits are also often filed by families of crash victims, both against individuals and businesses whose employees are driving the trucks responsible for the crash.
Of particular concern are commercial truck drivers; they often awake for hours on end for their shifts, even with regulatory limits in place. Fatigue is of particular issue here because large trucks have the ability to kill people in multiple-vehicle collisions, due to their relative size compared to compact passenger vehicles. Thus, when commercial drivers become fatigued, the risk of deadly crashes on our roads rises seemingly exponentially.
Unfortunately, Louisiana does not have its own drowsy driving law and thus fails to provide another tool that could be used to reduce the driver fatigue on the road that are more prone to accidents with others.
Harrell & Nowak – New Orlean Car Accident Attorneys
Each year, thousands of Americans are injured in motor vehicle accidents. These motor vehicle accidents can cause serious spinal cord, traumatic brain, and other types of personal injury.
Lawsuits against trucking companies can be difficult due to the resources these companies often expend fighting the lawsuit and potentially hiding evidence. On top of this, dealing with insurance companies can be a hassle, particularly if you have just been injured in an accident or lose a loved one due to someone else’s negligence.
The auto and car accident attorneys at Harrell & Nowak have helped many victims in New Orleans, Kenner, Metairie, and throughout Louisiana obtain financial compensation for their injuries. Our car and auto accident lawyers will work to ensure that your rights are protected and that your financial needs are met if you’ve been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident.