Houston Car Wreck Lawyer Explains Consequences of Falling Asleep While Driving

Houston, TX, 3/30/2015 /Submit Press Release 123 / Transportation safety advocates have long cautioned drivers about dangerous driving distractions of all kinds. Driving while fatigued is one that has been linked to thousands of accidents each year. According to data from the National Highway Safety Administration an estimated 2.5 percent of fatal crashes are caused as a result of drowsy driving.

Recently in Dallas County, a driver that investigators say likely fell asleep at the wheel while driving along Highway 141 was killed in a fatal crash.

Source: NBC 13 Report “One Person Killed in Dallas County Crash”

“DALLAS COUNTY, Iowa — One person was killed in a crash in Dallas County Monday morning. The crash happened at about 5:30 a.m. Monday along Highway 141 near mile marker 140.”

To read more visit http://whotv.com/2015/03/16/accident-on-highway-141-kills-one/.

The 19-year-old driver was reportedly thrown from the vehicle after losing control and running into a ditch. The accident remains under investigation.

Source: KCCI Report “Name of driver killed in Highway 141 crash released”

“The 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix was headed northbound when troopers said the driver fell asleep…The car entered the ditch and as the driver, Mackenzie Dawn Van Schuyver, 19, of Woodward, lost control and the car rolled twice. Van Schuyver was not wearing a seat belt was thrown from the vehicle.”

To read more visit http://www.kcci.com/news/driver-killed-in-morning-onevehicle-crash-on-highway-141/31821200.

Driving while fatigued is one of the most dangerous driving distractions that exist. When drivers are excessively tired while operating a motor vehicle they place the lives of others as well as their own at risk. The (CDC) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, states that being impaired cognitively can be equivalent to driving while under the influence of alcohol in terms of the physical effects a driver who has gone a prolonged amount of time without sleep experiences.

According to Houston based car wreck attorney Amy Witherite of the Eberstein & Witherite law firm, who has worked on a number of cases involving fatigued drivers there are certain groups of drivers who are at a higher risk of experiencing this issue. Says the attorney “accidents involving truck drivers, people who work long shifts at a job, and those who have had a history of sleep conditions like narcolepsy who injured someone after falling asleep at the wheel are the types of fatigued driving related cases we see most frequently.”

Still the broad scope of the problem is not limited to people who fall under these categories. In a survey of 150,000 adults aged 18 and older in the District of Columbia and 19 states, more than four percent admitted they had fallen asleep at the wheel while driving one or more times over the course of the previous 30 days.

In an effort to reduce the rates of drowsy driving in the United States, transportation safety advocates have outlined several preventative steps that drivers can take including:

– Getting adequate rest

– Not drinking or taking sedatives prior to driving

– Seeking treatment for any known sleep disorders

– Pulling over at a safe rest stop if one experiences displays of extreme fatigue while driving

Attorney Amy Witherite also states that “Some drivers think that things like listening to loud music and drinking caffeinated beverages are the solution for staying awake if they feel the urge to fall asleep. These are not reliable methods for staying alert and depending on them will not likely decrease their chances of having a fatigued related crash.”

Many encourage drivers to assess how they feel before their commute, especially if it is going to be a long one, and find a designated driver or wait until they have rested sufficiently before getting on the road.

Media Information:
Amy Witherite Houston Car Wreck Lawyer

Phone: 1800-227-9732

Url: 1-800 Car Wreck Houston

Read the full story at http://newsreleases.submitpressrelease123.com/2015/03/31/houston-car-wreck-lawyer/