Drowsy Driving Accidents in Pennsylvania

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Falling asleep at the wheel leads to hundreds of car accidents every year in Pennsylvania alone. In fact, there are many more drowsy drivers on the road than many people realize. Unfortunately, most drivers don't admit to themselves when they are too fatigued to drive and don’t realize how tired they are until it is too late.

Drowsy driving is a preventable issue and an extremely dangerous threat to other drivers on the road. Drivers who cause accidents because they fell asleep behind the wheel or were too tired to react in time to prevent an accident may be held liable for compensating accident victims.

People who are most likely to drive while fatigued include:

• Late night/early morning shift workers
• Shift workers who work more than 50-60 hours a week
• Long-haul truck drivers
• People with undiagnosed sleep disorders
• Business travelers

If you or someone you love has been injured, talk to a Harrisburg car accident attorney at Metzger Wickersham today. You may be owed compensation for the following damages:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical bills
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs
• Lost income

If you or a loved one has been injured due to a drowsy driver, now is the time to call the Pennsylvania drowsy driving accident lawyers at Metzger Wickersham: (888) 286-2850.

Large-Firm Resources, Small-Firm Attention

Metzger Wickersham has been trusted in Pennsylvania since 1888. Since then, we have helped thousands of individuals and families recover after unexpected accidents. Driven by a genuine passion for helping the injured achieve justice, we have a history of achieving excellent results for our clients. You shouldn’t have to pay for another person’s carelessness, nor do you have to go through this time alone. Allow our firm to stand by your side and fight for the full compensation you are entitled to.

Your initial consultation is free of charge and there are no fees unless we win your case. Contact us online or call our office to get started.

Fatigued Driving Accidents: A Preventable Epidemic

Earlier this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognized that drowsy driving is a safety issue on our nation’s roads. The agency announced that it will be focused on trying to combat the problems associated with drowsy drivers.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy or fatigued driving is suspected in as many as one in six fatal car accidents, as well in one out of every eight crashes that results in hospital admissions. Statistics reveal that nodding off while driving – even just briefly – is a regular occurrence. A CDC report indicates that an average of 1 and 25 drivers will fall asleep while driving at some point. Some studies even show that drowsy or sleepy drivers can be just as hazardous as drunk or drugged driving.

The NHTSA administrator says that drowsy driving is a more universal problem than other types of dangerous driving behaviors because everyone gets tired, and it is natural that fatigue will sometimes set in behind the wheel. By contrast, not everyone speeds or drives drunk and you generally have more control over these behaviors than you do if your body is telling you to nod off.

The NHTSA wants to tackle this problem and will be focused on taking action this year. However, unfortunately, it is much harder to regulate drowsy driving than it is other types of dangerous driving behavior because policing the number of hours people spend behind the wheel would be impossible. Although truck drivers are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules about the number of hours they can drive each day and each week, obviously there is no such limitation on the number of hours an average person can drive.

The NHTSA has highlighted a few things that it will be doing to combat the drowsy driving problem, including doing more research into the causes, exploring the effectiveness of both legal and technological solutions, and increasing public awareness efforts to remind motorists about the dangers of driving when fatigued.

Hopefully, the NHTSA will come up with an innovative strategy for drowsy driving crash prevention; however, ultimately the responsibility for motorists not to drive drowsy lies with the motorist.

In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control conducted a study that revealed around four percent of U.S. motorists who were driving on the road had admitted to falling asleep as they drove over the course of the 30-days before the survey. An estimated 2.2 to 2.6 percent of all car accidents in the United States are caused by these drowsy drivers who don’t make the smart choice to stop driving when they start to feel tired. Each year, more than 72,000 devastating crashes are caused by sleep-deprived drivers.

These accidents are always preventable. Drowsy motorists have the choice to pull over and rest rather than face the risk of getting into an accident. When these drivers choose to drive fatigued, they may not be acting maliciously, but they are acting negligently. That means they may be held liable or responsible if they cause an accident.

I Was Hit by a Sleepy Driver. What Now?

Just like any other car accident claim, a crash involving a sleepy driver must be handled by a skilled car accident attorney in Pennsylvania. At Metzger Wickersham, we strive to recover the maximum compensation for our clients after serious accidents.

We can fight to help you recover compensation for the following:

• Medical bills and hospital expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Rehabilitation costs
• Any other related damages

Our Harrisburg drowsy driving accident lawyers bring years of collective insight and experience to car accident cases. We have helped our clients recover millions of dollars over the years and remain ready to pursue the same results for you.

For tips on avoiding drowsy driving for yourself and loved ones, click here.

Request a free consultation today. Call Metzger Wickersham at (888) 286-2850.