Driver Falls Asleep at the Wheel, Flips Car near Ava, Missouri
A 30-year-old man from Springfield, Missouri was injured in a one-car crash on Missouri Highway 5 on Sunday night, June 19, 2011, according to a report on news-leader.com. The driver fell asleep at the wheel and veered off the road. In the process, the man’s vehicle slammed into a mailbox and went into a ditch before his flipping and crashing into a tree.
The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. Another passenger sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Fatigued driving is a serious problem in the United States. Crashes like this occur often and can be a serious danger to the lives of both the driver and other motorists. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that the most prominent causes of fatigued driving crashes are sleep loss, driving at times of the day linked to more fatigue, use of medications that cause drowsiness, sleep disorders and the consumption of alcohol.
The NHTSA notes that it is important to get enough sleep before driving and that drivers should not have any alcohol when sleepy and should avoid driving when you would otherwise be sleeping. If you are driving and you get sleepy, caffeine can provide a short-term alertness but it is probably better to couple the coffee with a short nap.
If you or one of your loved ones has been in a crash with a driver who fell asleep at the wheel, you have legal options. Call Page Law at 314-322-8515 to talk to Missouri car crash lawyers who can get you the settlement you deserve.
Sources: http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110620/NEWS01/110620003/?odyssey=nav|head
http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/drowsy_driving1/drowsy.html
