Vehicle Accident Lawyer: Fatigued Driving Causes Motor Vehicle Crashes

Fatal traffic accidents have dramatically increased over the past decade, according to the Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB is the Federal Government’s investigative agency responsible for investigating all major transportation accidents. The NTSB estimates about four traffic fatalities occur every hour on U.S. roads. The NTSB determined that a leading cause of fatal traffic accidents is attributed to fatigued drivers and companies that fail to implement systems that manage driver fatigue.

What Is Considered Fatigued Driving?

Fatigued driving (also referred to as drowsy driving) occurs when a person operates a motor vehicle on public roads without adequate sleep or is sleep-deprived. We all need different amounts of sleep to feel rested, but most scientists believe that driving after 20 hours without sleep is equivalent to operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08%. Drowsy driving causes delayed reaction time, loss of awareness, and microsleep, or involuntary periods of inattention. 

How Common is Fatigued Driving?

As a Texas personal injury lawyer, nearly all my fatigued driving accident cases involve commercial truck drivers and transportation companies. The most important rule for professional drivers to follow is the hours-of-service rule. This rule is designed to minimize fatigued driving by limiting the driving time of professional truck drivers and encouraging adequate sleep between shifts. Fatigued driving by professional drivers is a top three danger to all drivers and passengers on American roads.  Most fatigued driver accidents occur between midnight and 6 a.m. Drivers on public roads during this time are more likely to experience a motor vehicle crash caused by drowsy driving. 

Another key determinant of these crashes is geography; fatigue-related crashes occur much more frequently on rural roads and highways. Our principal office is located on a busy country highway, and we see daily examples of the recklessness and speeding of commercial truck drivers on Highway 6. Ultimately, if you are driving at night on a rural or country road, a fatigue-related traffic accident is much more common and—because of the speed—much more deadly.     

Ways To Avoid Fatigue-Related Auto Accidents

First, make sure you manage your own sleep by striving to have a consistent sleep pattern and avoid electronic devices an hour before going to bed. Next, try to avoid driving during high-risk periods between midnight and 6 a.m. When you do drive during this time, be extra vigilant about vehicles driving unusually and avoid being too close to suspicious vehicles. 

Texas Personal Injury Lawyers Fighting For Texas-Size Justice 

Meagan and Holland DeKeyzer are Texas Made Lawyers fighting for Texas-Size Justice. DeKeyzer Law was created to help individuals and families navigate some of life’s biggest challenges. DeKeyzer Law has over 20 years of combined personal injury litigation experience. We focus on vehicle accident cases, personal injury cases, and wrongful death cases on a contingency basis, meaning you only pay attorney’s fees when we win the case. We offer free consultations, so call DeKeyzer Law at (713) 904-4004 anytime.