Every year, there are close to 500,000 car accidents in Texas alone. This frightening statistic leaves many drivers in our state wondering what they can do to prevent future vehicle crashes. There are many different factors that can lead to car accidents, but drowsy driving causes a surprisingly large number of crashes per year. If you’re a Texan driver, read this blog to learn about how you can avoid crashes and reduce the number of auto accidents in our states per year. You may also reach out to a San Antonio, Texas Car Accident Lawyer who can provide individualized legal counseling.
HOW COMMON ARE DROWSY DRIVING ACCIDENTS?
Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found in their research that around 100,000 car accidents per year are caused by drowsy driving. However, the true number might be much higher because it can be difficult to determine if a driver was drowsy at the time of the crash. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests that the number is closer to 300,000 crashes per year. They also estimate that 109,000 of these types of crashes cause injuries and 6,400 cause fatalities.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF FATIGUED DRIVING?
If you begin exhibiting any of the following behaviors when driving on a roadway, you may be too drowsy to be operating a vehicle. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so safely pull over to rest if you experience:
- Unintentionally swerving or drifting into other lanes
- Inability to keep your eyes open
- Difficulty maintaining speed
- Frequent yawning
- Inability to remember driving the past few miles
- Difficulty keeping your head up
- Missing road signs, exits, or turns
- Nodding off or dozing off
HOW CAN I AVOID CAR COLLISIONS IN TEXAS?
In general, the best way to avoid automobile crashes is by practicing the safest driving habits and following the rules of the road. Only drive when you’re fully alert and sober to prevent future car accidents. If you see another vehicle driving unsafely, try to avoid them by maintaining a safe driving distance. Fortunately, many car manufacturers are now adding more safety features to hopefully prevent crashes caused by fatigued driving.
It’s also important to note that some medications could cause drowsiness as a side effect. If you take medication, you should check the listed side effects or speak with your doctor to see if your prescriptions could affect your ability to drive safely.
Have you recently been injured in an auto collision caused by a fatigued driver? If so, you should speak with a talented personal injury attorney who can help you to determine your best legal options moving forward. Thankfully, our highly experienced legal team is here to fight for you! Contact Sahadi Legal Group in San Antonio today for an initial consultation.
