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2/4/2010
Richard N. Shapiro
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Asleep At the Wheel: Drowsy Driving Increasing

According to a recent poll by Sleep in America, 36 percent of drivers admit to nodding off or falling asleep while behind the wheel of a car. The odds of a licensed car driver over the age of 18 getting into a car accident or near-accident due to drowsiness this past year were 1 in 50, according to bookofodds.com.

drowsy, fatigue, car, accident, crash, wreck, injury

Clearly, drowsy driving continues to be a major traffic safety issue. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals at least 100,000 car crashes are attributed to driver fatigue/falling asleep while driving each year resulting in roughly 1,550 deaths and 40,000 potentially serious injuries.

It's understandable to feel drained by the hectic schedule in our daily lives, but there's no excuse for nodding off while driving. That's a surefire way of getting into a major car wreck and suffering a serious injury like a broken neck, severed limbs, and/or traumatic brain injury.

Drowsy/fatigued driving usually occurs if you are on the road for hours on end without a break. This can happen if you are taking an interstate trip or maybe have a job which requires driving long hours (e.g. a commercial truck driver). You need to be vigilant of the tell-tale signs that you might be feeling fatigued or on the verge of falling to sleep while driving and are prone to dose off.

When you start to feel drowsy, pull over immediately and take a quick power nap or stop at a gas station and grab a coffee or Red Bull. The worst thing you can do is simply keep driving and drain yourself even further. Unfortunately, given the current statistics, it appears many people are not following these guidelines and are putting not only themselves, but other drivers on the road, at risk for a serious car accident.

Here's a video illustrating just how devastating a wreck can be when fall asleep behind the wheel...

Labels: accident Attorney car Crash drowsy fatigue injury Shapiro Wreck

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses exclusively on injury and accident law. We have a proven track record in the court room, and you can review our case results to see for yourself. Our attorneys have deep roots in Virginia and handle cases throughout the commonwealth. Our office is based in Virginia Beach, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness. While not every injury case meets our criteria, we off a free, initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail and we will return your call promptly.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included among the "Best Lawyers in America" 2010 Edition. Rick and James, along with fellow attorney John Cooper were named Virginia "Super Lawyers" For Personal Injury Law (2010 Ed., less than 5% of lawyers are chosen), and selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum (2009). In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical, respected law firms. Our firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We also offer free special reports along with editing the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a public information service. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube, a Railroad Accident/FELA Lawyers blog, a Medical Malpractice and Surgical Errors blog, and a blog dedicated to accident and safety issues on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

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Main VA Office
1294 Diamond Springs Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Phone: (757)-460-7776
Fax: (757)-460-3428
Toll Free: 1-800-752-0042

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Mill Point Center
101 Eaton Street
Hampton, Virginia 23669
Phone: (757)-788-8162

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