Merrillville, IN Law Firm Handles Drowsy Driver Accident Cases
Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys Stand Up for Those Injured by a Fatigued Driver
Many American drivers are in need of more sleep. Sleep deprivation is a problem that affects nearly everyone, and accidents related to drowsy driving are more common than most people think.
According to a 2018 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report, fatigued driving is eight times more dangerous than previously believed to be. Using scientific procedures to link the percentage of time that a driver’s eyes are closed to their degree of drowsiness, the AAA researchers found that 9.5 percent of all accidents involved drivers who were drowsy. Previous federal estimates had concluded that drowsiness was a factor in just one to two percent of all motor vehicle accidents.
Sleep Deprivation and Driving Ability
Drowsy driving can be the result of untreated sleep conditions, prescription drugs, sleep apnea, alcohol use, or shift work, but it usually occurs when a driver simply has not gotten sufficient sleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 35 percent of drivers in the U.S. get less than the recommended minimum seven hours of sleep per day.
When people drive while fatigued, they:
- Have trouble keeping their attention focused on the road.
- Exhibit a slower reaction time when braking or steering unexpectedly.
- Tend to make more bad driving decisions.
Although 96 percent of all drivers view drowsy driving as an improper behavior that can put them or others at risk, 29 percent admitted that they have driven while having difficulty keeping their eyes open during the past month, and an estimated one in 25 adult drivers reported falling asleep at the wheel in the past month.
Contact an experienced Merrillville, IN Personal Injury Attorney
If you were injured in an accident caused by a fatigued driver, contact the Indiana accident attorneys at Kelly Law Offices, LLC online or call 1-800-859-8800 and set up your free initial consultation today.


