Sherinian Law
  • call Us Today
    (630) 318-2606 | (312) 981-5004
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury
  • Commercial Litigation
  • News
  • Attorneys
  • Contact

Lack of Sleep and Car Crashes: The Documented Link

Home / Uncategorized / Lack of Sleep and Car Crashes: The Documented Link
July 14, 2017
by Law Offices of Konrad Sherinian |  
Uncategorized

Drivers often hear about not driving after drinking or while distracted, but there’s another dangerous driving behavior on the rise: getting behind the wheel without enough sleep.

As covered by NPR, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety just released a report indicating that drivers who sleep just five or six hours over a 24-hour period are twice as likely to be in a crash than drivers who sleep at least seven hours. This report also showed that the less sleep a driver gets, the higher his or her crash rate climbs. A person who got four or five hours of sleep, for example, had four times the crash rate, which is close to what is seen with people driving drunk.

Previous research has shown that around one-fifth of all fatal accidents in the United States involved a sleepy driver. In 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) data showed that 35,092 people lost their lives in auto accidents; this was a 7.2 percent increase from 2014.

The foundation used the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey that was conducted by NHTSA. The data in this survey is taken from police-reported accidents in which one or more vehicles had to be towed from the crash site and/or emergency medical personnel were called. Drivers who were involved in these accidents were asked how much sleep they got in the 24 hours leading up to the accident.

Many studies find a lack of sleep to be a problem across the country in general. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that about one in three American adults don’t get enough sleep regularly. Lack of sleep can cause trouble focusing and concentrating, poor judgment, delayed reaction time and other issues that can interfere with a person’s ability to safely drive.

People often don’t make sleep a priority until something happens, as was the case with Cincinnati nurse Karen Roberts. She fell asleep behind the wheel after an overnight shift at her job, crossed the double line and caused a crash. According to Roberts, she knew she was tired but was close to home and drove anyway, with the head-on crash happening in an instant. The other driver walked away with some minor injuries, and while Roberts did recover from her initial injuries, she still struggles with medical problems related to the crash, including some headaches. These days, says the nurse, sleep is something that she holds as truly important.

Experts suggest making sure you get enough sleep before getting behind the wheel. If you’re under the recommended seven to eight hours a night and absolutely must drive, assess your condition before hitting the road and try to take a nap. Naturally, if you can avoid the road when you haven’t had enough sleep, that’s still the best way to go.

If you or someone you love has been injured because of a drowsy driver, speak to an experienced auto accident and negligence lawyer Denver CO relies on today about your case and all your rights.

Richard J. Banta, P.C.Thanks to our friends and contributors from Richard J. Banta, P.C. into personal injury practice.

Share
Previous Post
4th of July Promotion
Next Post
How Do You Know Something Is Medical Malpractice?
Practice Areas
  • No categories
Contact Us Today

Get your free case review within 24 hours. All Fields Required.





    Please prove you are human by selecting the Heart.

    Client Review

    “Konrad Sherinian is a talented patent attorney. He had years of experience as an electrical engineer prior to getting his law degree, and that adds depth to his understanding of technical IP issues. For anyone needing high-quality representation in the intellectual property field, I recommend Konrad.”
    Kerry B.
    Client Review

    Chicago Patent and Personal Injury Attorneys

    • call us today
      (630) 318-2606

    1755 PARK STREET, SUITE #200, NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS 60563
    Phone: (630) 318-2606
    180 NORTH LASALLE, SUITE #3700, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60601
    Phone: (312) 981-5004
    Fax: (630) 364-5825
    Phones are open 24/7

    RESOURCES
    • Intellectual Property Attorneys
    • Personal Injury Attorneys
    • Commercial Litigation Attorneys
    • Attorneys
    • Sitemap
    NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

    Follow Us

    World Class Legal Counsel on Intellectual Property & Technology ®. Copyright The Law Offices of Konrad Sherinian, LLC © 2020. All Rights Reserved

    ATTORNEYS: Konrad Sherinian Edward Bi | Powered By: Matador Solutions
    Resources:
    • Car Accident Lawyer Naperville IL
    • Medical Malpractice Attorney Chicago IL
    • Medical Malpractice Attorney Naperville IL
    • Patent Attorney Chicago IL
    • Patent Lawyer Chicago IL
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Chicago IL
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Naperville IL
    • Trademark Attorney Chicago IL
    • Patent Lawyers Chicago IL
    • Patent Attorneys Chicago IL
    • Car Accident Lawyer Chicago, IL
    • Chicago IL Patent Attorney
    • Patent Lawyer Chicago IL Near Me
    • Premises Liability Lawyer Naperville IL
    • Bicycle Accident Lawyer Naperville IL
    • Legal Resources