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Many people take sleep for granted. Even when individuals are tired, they figure they can plow forward with a bit of caffeine or fresh air. But the body is affected when it does not get enough sleep. Tired individuals can become drowsy, which makes it more difficult for them to pay attention or react quickly to a change in situation. This is particularly true for adolescents who need more sleep for their developing brains and bodies than adults.

Teens all across the U.S. are not sleeping enough, yet, they still drive. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy driving leads to car accidents that cause injuries and fatalities. If you were involved in a car accident caused by a sleepy teen, contact a Cape Coral personal injury lawyer like Randall Spivey at the Spivey Law Firm as soon as possible.

The Truth About Drowsy Driving

Teenagers are not only more likely to cause a car accident than older individuals, but they are also highly likely to die in a crash. Drowsy driving is one of the significant factors behind these teen car accidents.

Many people will not believe it, but drowsy driving can be just as bad as drunk driving. According to the National Sleep Foundation, when you are overly tired, you are less able to pay attention to your surroundings. You are less able to quickly identify a hazard and maneuver a car to avoid a crash. You are also more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel. Not getting enough sleep and then choosing to sit behind the wheel is a serious issue.

Research continually finds issues with adolescents driving while drowsy:

• The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) reported more than half of accidents caused by someone falling asleep included drivers under the age of 25. An NSF poll from 2006 found more than half of teens admitted to driving drowsy in the past year, and 15 percent of 10-12^th graders admitted to drowsy driving once per week.
• A more recent study by The George Institute for Global Health in Sydney, Australia, uncovered the same problem. The researchers followed more than 19,000 drivers between the ages of 17 and 24 for 2 years after receiving their licenses. They found drivers who reported 6 or fewer hours of sleep every night had an increased risk of a crash compared to people who slept more than 6 hours. The individuals who slept the least had a 21 percent higher risk of a crash. Individuals who slept less than 6 hours on the weekend were 55 percent more likely to be involved in a collision.
• A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found between 2009 and 2013, 21 percent of all fatal crashes involved a drowsy driver. Drivers between the ages of 19 and 24 were most likely to admit to drowsy driving. One-third of this age group reported drowsy driving in the previous month.

What If You Are Hit by a Drowsy Driver?

If you were in an accident and you believe the other driver was overly tired, speak with an attorney immediately. An experienced personal injury lawyer like Randall Spivey will understand how to investigate your accident and the party at fault to determine if lack of sleep was a factor. If there is evidence that the other driver, whether a teenager or an adult, was too exhausted to safely drive, then you may be able to prove negligence in court and recover for your injuries.

For more information about filing a personal injury claim, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.