When you are out on the road, it is hard to tell if the other drivers around you are practicing safe driving habits. Unfortunately, some do not, and this leads to auto accidents. When injured in an auto accident, you may suffer from pain and disability, lost wages, and have additional medical bills.

If the actions of another driver injured you, and there are steps the other driver should have taken to prevent the accident, you could hold the other driver responsible. A person could be driving drowsy, distracted or intoxicated and cause an accident that can affect you for life. While distracted driving and driving while intoxicated get a lot of attention, many people tend to forget about the dangers of driving while fatigued.

The problem

If a person chooses to operate a motor vehicle while fatigued, a few things will happen. The driver will lose reaction time, making it more dangerous if a situation comes up in which a driver needs to brake or steer suddenly. The driver will have a tougher time paying attention to the road. He or she will also be less likely to make good driving decisions.

Types of drowsy drivers

Anyone can possibly find themselves in a situation in which they are too tired to drive, but certain types of drivers are more prone to pushing past the limits of fatigue. Any driver who does not get enough sleep is more dangerous. Commercial drivers, such as truckers and bus drivers, are also more prone to fall victim to drowsy driving. Anyone with a medical condition like sleep apnea, or a person who takes certain medications, may also become sleepy behind the wheel.

Drowsy driving prevention

Drowsy driving is insidious and can sneak up on a person, but there are signs to look for. If you know you haven’t gotten enough sleep, you should probably pass the responsibility to someone else. If you are driving, and you catch yourself yawning, hitting the rumble strip, feeling foggy or missing an exit, you should stop driving, let someone else take over or take a short nap.

Drowsy driving impact

If you were in an auto accident caused by a drowsy driver, you may be suffering. A car injury can cause a range of injuries up to and including death. If the other driver is responsible, you may be able to get compensation for your losses. You may wish to consult with a personal injury attorney who is willing to consult and communicate with you about the case.