Drowsy driving is a serious problem in Louisiana as well as in the rest of the nation. In 2015, an estimated 5,000 people lost their lives in accidents that were caused by drowsy drivers. Each day, millions of people in the United States drive while they are sleep-deprived.
The data was set forth by the Governors Highway Safety Association in a report it released on Aug. 8. Motor vehicle accident deaths were also up by 7.7 percent in 2015 from the previous year. The extent of the problems posed by drowsy drivers is not fully known, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has added drowsy driving to its list of impaired driving behaviors, along with drunk and drugged driving.
Not including losses from property damage, drowsy driving is estimated to cause $109 billion in societal losses every year. Young adults and teens make up over half of the accidents involving drowsy driving. There are also 40 million Americans who suffer from various sleep disorders that are also at higher risk for falling asleep behind the wheel.
People who are drowsy behind the wheel should pull off of the road and rest so that they don’t endanger others on the road. Drivers owe a duty of care to others traveling around them. When they violate that duty and cause an injury or fatality accident as a result, the victims may file civil lawsuits with the assistance of personal injury attorneys in order to hold the negligent drivers accountable. Through lawsuits, plaintiffs might recover damages to compensate them for the losses that they have incurred.
