Chicago auto accident lawyers, Zneimer Zneimer note a recently released study by the Center for Disease Control which found that 4 percent of U.S. adults admit nodding off while driving within the last month. The study found that men were more likely to report that they nodded off while driving than women. The estimates of fatal car crashes caused by drowsy drivers run from 3 percent to as high as 32 percent. The CDC urged drivers to watch for the warning signs such as having trouble keeping ones eyes open, not remembering landmarks and drifting on to the rumble strip.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that there are currently no tests available to quantify levels of drowsiness there are noted characteristics according to the NHTSA such as:
a) The crashes occur during late night/early morning or midafternoon.
b) The crash is probably serious.
c) The lone driver leaves the roadway.
b) The road has a high speed limit.
e) the driver does nothing to avoid the crash.
The NHTSA also identified the following population group as at the highest risk:
a) Young people, especially males.
b) Shift workers whose shifts change.
c) People with sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
The Chicago personal injury law firm of Zneimer & Zneimer have handled many cases involving impaired defendants who appeared to have fallen asleep or were to drowsy too avoid an accident. These crashes are more common than they are given credit for in the media.