A family of four returning home from a ski trip narrowly survived a severe car accident just outside Stockton after the fatigued driver fell asleep at the wheel. Drowsy driving is a major contributor to traffic accidents in California and across the country, leading to thousands of accidents every year. Continue reading below for details about the accident and California’s drowsy driver problem, and contact an experienced Stockton or Sutter Creek auto accident lawyer for help after an accident in California’s Central Valley.
Family narrowly survives drowsy driving accident
A California family was heading back from a ski trip on a recent Saturday, heading southbound on I-5 near the Roth Road interchange in their Honda, when they experienced a harrowing car crash. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver was fatigued and fell asleep at the wheel. He lost control of the Honda, veering off the roadway and rolling the car over. All four members of the family were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of unspecified major injures. As of this writing, the medical condition of the family members was unknown.
Drowsy driving is a serious, underestimated danger in California and across the country
Drunk driving has historically been, and unfortunately will continue to be, a leading cause of traffic accidents and fatalities in this country. But drunk driving is not the only major cause of serious car accidents. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control, drowsy driving was responsible for at least 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013; the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) reported similar numbers for 2017. The CDC notes that these numbers are under-inclusive and that as many as 6,000 fatal crashes per year may be caused by drowsy drivers. The CDC also reported that, according to their study, one in 25 drivers admitted to falling asleep while driving in the previous 30 days. Being awake for 24 hours straight has the same effect on reflexes and cognition as having a 0.10% blood content, which is above the legal driving limit of 0.08%.
Drivers who do not get enough sleep, commercial truck drivers or other long shift drivers, drivers who take medications that make them drowsy, and drivers with untreated sleep disorders all contribute to a dangerous condition on U.S. roadways that leads to thousands of serious accidents every year. Over 100 Californians are killed every year in drowsy driving accidents, and drowsy drivers should be held accountable for the injury and deaths they cause by compensating the victims and their families. Drivers must make sure that they get enough sleep before getting behind the wheel.
If you need legal help after a drowsy driving accident or other car crash in California, contact the seasoned, knowledgeable, and driven Sutter Creek personal injury attorneys at Redkey Gordon Law Corp for a no-cost consultation at 209-267-1685.