The danger of drunk driving and distracted driving gets quite a bit of attention in North Carolina and throughout the country. And with good reason. These are incredibly dangerous activities for anyone to engage in, endangering the lives of not only that driver but all others on the road as well.
There is another danger for drivers to be on the lookout for: “drowsy” driving.
Quite simple, drowsy driving is the danger presented by those who might fall asleep at the wheel. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that in one recent year – 2021 – 684 deaths occurred due to motor vehicle accidents attributed to drowsy driving.
Every single one of those deaths could have probably been prevented. Thousands more crashes are caused by drowsy driving in which, fortunately, there are no fatalities. But, there could be injuries – even serious injuries.
As many of our readers have probably guessed, the NHTSA statistics also show that most drowsy driving accidents occur in the very early hours of the morning: between midnight and 6am, typically. And, even though there are obviously more cars on the road in metropolitan areas, rural areas actually see some of the highest numbers for drowsy driving, according to the NHTSA.
Taking legal action
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident that you believe was caused by a drowsy driver, you may be able to take legal action. A personal injury lawsuit could lead to an award of financial compensation to help you pay your medical expenses, among other costs associated with the crash.