When you get behind the wheel of a car in Connecticut, it is vital that you are rested and have gotten proper sleep. Otherwise, you could be placing yourself and other motorists on the road in danger. Many people simply do not understand the dangers of fatigued driving since they are so focused on the harms caused by drunk driving.
The scary statistics of drowsy driving
The statistics of drowsy driving are frightening: 20% of drivers nationwide admit to falling asleep behind the wheel at least once in the past year. Twice that amount say that they have fallen asleep while driving at least once in the time that they have been driving. In 2015, roughly 5,000 people were killed in accidents where fatigued driving was a factor in the crash.
Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving
All it takes is for a driver to doze off for a few seconds, creating an incredibly dangerous situation. Even if the driver has not fully fallen asleep, their reaction times are greatly slowed when they are fatigued, reducing their ability to avoid an accident. If you think about slowed reaction times in the context of drunk driving, getting behind the wheel without having slept in 20 hours is the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol level of .08. This is what would be legally considered drunk driving. While drowsy driving is not per se illegal, it is every bit as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol.
If you were injured in an accident where the driver was drowsy and fatigued, chances are that they were negligent. As a result, you may be able to receive financial compensation for your injuries. You may want to consult with a motor vehicle accidents attorney to learn more about your legal rights and how you would file a claim for compensation. Then, your attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement or file a lawsuit on your behalf in court.
