If you are more tired than usual, it may be in your best interest to have someone else go behind the wheel. This is because fatigued driving accidents are reported to occur more often than you may realize. Continue reading to learn how prevalent these accidents are and how an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help you in this situation.
What are the data on fatigued driving accidents?
Driving while drowsy, fatigued, or sleep deprived is just as bad as driving while under the influence of alcohol. Driving while being awake for more than 20 hours is the equivalent of driving with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 percent. Notably, driving with a BAC level of 0.08 percent is the legal limit in the United States before it is considered a criminal offense.
With that being said, below is data that proves the prevalence of fatigued driving accidents:
- Approximately 100,000 drowsy driving accidents are reported to the police annually, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Approximately 328,000 drowsy driving accidents occur annually, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which is more than three times the police-reported number recorded by the NHTSA.
- Approximately 109,000 drowsy driving accidents result in an injury, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
- Approximately 6,400 drivers die in fatigued driving accidents annually, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
What should I do if I am involved in an accident with a fatigued driver?
It may be difficult to determine whether a driver was drowsy, fatigued, or sleep-deprived at the time of a collision. However, if you believe that this is your case, then you must hold the at-fault driver accountable via a personal injury claim. For your claim, you should take the following approach:
- Call the police: law enforcement will arrive on the scene to conduct an official accident report and send an ambulance.
- Collect contact information: if the other driver is asleep at the wheel, then you may want to wait for law enforcement before approaching. In the meantime, you can make note of their license plate number. Then, you may collect their name, phone number, driver’s license number, insurance policy number, etc.
- Gather witnesses: ask any present witnesses for their contact information so that they may testify later on.
- Take photos and videos: capture your injuries, car damages, and the overall scene.
- Go to the ambulance: allow the EMTs and paramedics to treat you. Then, you should plan on going to the hospital and scheduling follow-up appointments with your physician for any injuries that may surface later on.
- Acquire legal representation: an attorney may be the only person who can help you obtain surveillance camera footage of your accident, along with other essential pieces of evidence.
So, without further ado, reach out to a skilled Tampa auto accident lawyer today.
