Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving is an underappreciated danger on today’s roads. A recent accident in Polk County in central Florida serves as a wake-up call for those of us who may not get enough sleep and then climb behind the wheel. Driving drowsy is a dangerous practice and can be fatal or cause serious injuries to both the drowsy driver and to other innocent third parties if a drowsy driver causes an accident.
It can happen at any time of day in today’s “always plugged in” culture, which has been shown to reduce both the amount and quality of sleep Americans are getting. Smartphones, tablets and other devices intrude more and more into the bedroom; people either interact with their devices immediately before going to sleep and then have trouble falling asleep, or they may be checking their email and messages in the middle of the night and then have difficulty going back to sleep. As a result, drowsiness during the day is almost to be expected. However, as reflected in this recent accident, driving while drowsy can be a very dangerous scenario and should be avoided at all costs.
The Recent Drowsy Driving Accident in Winter Haven
According to a report from ABC Action News, the accident, which took place at 5:30 p.m. on a weeknight in Winter Haven in Polk County, occurred when a driver, who was later determined to be drowsy, slammed into the back of another vehicle that was in front of him at a toll booth on the Polk Parkway. The video from the toll booth showed a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck being pushed forward after the drowsy driver’s GMC Envoy SUV slammed into the back of the Silverado. The impact pushed the Silverado upwards until the drowsy driver’s SUV ended up pinned underneath the pickup truck. The impact then caused the pickup truck to slam into a camera, light display, and two control panels in the toll booth plaza and landed its driver in the ICU with a broken leg. He also had a seizure as a result of the accident. The SUV’s driver was cited for careless driving.
Drowsy Driving: A Scourge Throughout the Sunshine State
According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), drowsy driving is much more of an issue than most people would think. Statewide, 4,329 crashes with 28 fatalities occurred in 2017 because of drowsy driving, according to FHP. Polk County, where the toll booth crash occurred, had 28 crashes due to drowsy driving in 2017. Martin County had the most crashes statewide with 536 crashes due to drowsy drivers in 2017. These statistics clearly show that drowsy driving is a serious issue that must be addressed by drivers changing their behavior in Florida.
Contact the Experienced Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys of Schwed, Adams & McGinley If You Have Been in An Accident Caused By a Drowsy Driver
The experienced personal injury attorneys at Schwed, Adams & McGinley want to make sure that all Florida drivers are safe on the roads. If you are the least bit tired, do not get behind the wheel. Driving requires your full attention and when you are tired you cannot give the road and the surrounding vehicles your full attention. So, do yourself and the other drivers on the road a favor if you are drowsy and do not get behind the wheel lest you end up in a wreck.
At Schwed, Adams & McGinley, our experienced personal injury attorneys have more than 150 years of combined practice representing victims of all sorts of motor vehicle accidents. We have represented thousands of people who were injured in motor vehicle accidents, including motorists injured by someone who was driving while drowsy. Therefore, if you, a family member, or a loved one have been injured in a motor vehicle accident because of a motorist who made the choice to drive while drowsy, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Schwed, Adams & McGinley, P.A today at 877-694-6079 or contact@schwedlawfirm.com for a free consultation.