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Category: Drunk Driver

  • Drowsy Driving in Texas: A Preventable Tragedy

    Recently, the driver of an 18-wheeler on I-20 in Texas allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel. This resulted in a crash that took the lives of five people.

    While most drowsy driving incidents don’t lead to such mass casualty events, they are all crashes that are easily prevented. For the victims of negligent car and truck drivers, the severity of drowsy driving is undeniable.

    A Common and Persistent Problem

    Most people acknowledge the dangers of driving drunk. Fewer are willing to face up to the danger involved in driving while fatigued.

    People who would never dream of driving drunk will turn up the radio, blast the air conditioner or even pinch themselves to try to stay awake while driving. Drowsy driving remains a problem because so many people don’t take the danger seriously.

    Issues Leading to Drowsy Driving

    While the causes of drowsy driving may seem obvious, there are several factors that can contribute to the problem, including:

    • Sleep deprivation: This is the most basic cause of drowsy driving. The 7-9 hours of sleep per night that most people need can easily be sacrificed to work schedules, insomnia, lifestyle choices and more.
    • Medications: There are some medications, including antihistamines and antidepressants, which are known to cause drowsiness. Even a well-rested driver can get drowsy under the influence of these medications.
    • Shift work: Working nights or on an irregular schedule can easily lead to drowsy driving. When a work schedule is not conducive to a normal sleep schedule, one of the likely side effects is fatigued driving.
    • Alcohol and drugs: Alcohol can cause you to miss out on a good night’s sleep. Similarly, many recreational drugs can result in sleep deprivation, impairing your ability to drive safely while under their influence and after.

    The Impact of Drowsiness on Safe Driving

    In the most extreme cases, a driver can fall asleep entirely while operating a vehicle. If the vehicle is traveling at highway speeds, the driver and anyone in front of the vehicle are at serious risk of injury or death. But a drowsy driver doesn’t have to fall asleep to endanger others.

    Fatigue can work on the body in much the same way alcohol does. Drowsy drivers show the same poor judgment and slow reaction times that drunk drivers do. A tired driver is also less likely to be attentive to the many obstacles we face when driving.

    Things like a sea of brake lights (suggesting a crash), road construction or just everyday congestion can escape the notice of a drowsy driver until it’s too late. Safe driving requires an astonishing number of good decisions made quickly. Fatigue makes those decisions much harder and increases the chances that something will be missed.

    Call a Skilled Dallas Personal Injury Attorney Today

    At The Fell Law Firm, our experienced car accident attorneys know how to help you recover compensation for your injuries. If you suspect that a drowsy driver was to blame for your crash, call us today at 972-450-1418 to schedule a consultation.

  • Texas Tied for #1 in Worst Drivers: Careless Driving and Speeding a Problem

    For the past 10 years, the website Car Insurance Comparison has analyzed vehicle accident data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association CrashStats and Fatality Analysis Reporting System. They use that data to come up with their Worst Driver ranking each year. 

    2022 is not looking good for Texas. We’re tied for #1 (with New Mexico) for worst drivers. Texas was particularly bad for careless driving and speeding. In our state, 30.7% of fatal car accidents involved speeding. That adds up to a lot of heartaches for families of loved ones lost to a car or truck crash. 

    Texas also had the highest percentage of fatal vehicle crashes involving a driver with an invalid driver’s license (19.1%), and the highest number of alcohol-related fatal crashes (79.56%).

    Texas didn’t always rate this bad but it’s been climbing in the “worst driver” ratings for the past several years. 

    The pandemic increased accident and fatality rates nationwide. In 2020, fatal car accidents increased 7% across Texas. And according to an article in The Mercury, police in Richardson said the increase in fatalities continued in 2021, as well as a 20% increase in injuries in vehicle crashes. 

    Waterview was the site of many car accidents in Richardson. In Plano, some of the worst intersections for car accidents are Custer Road and W Parker Road, and Dallas Parkway and West Parker Road. In fact, in 2019 there were more than 100 car accidents along Dallas Parkway. 

    But that wasn’t the most dangerous road in Plano. That same year saw almost 130 car and truck crashes along Colt Road. 

    If you’ve been injured by a careless driver, a drunk driver, or a speeding driver, talk to a personal injury attorney as soon as you can after the accident. A family member can also make the call if the injured person cannot do so themselves. 

    Proving fault in a car accident or truck accident may require some investigation. Yes, the police do some investigation at the site of the accident when they arrive, but so will a personal injury law firm. Sometimes we seek the help of an accident investigator or an accident reconstructionist if that’s what it takes to prove who caused the accident and why the injured person should get compensated.

    The Fell Law Firm represents injured people and the family of those who have died in a car or truck crash in the Dallas-Richardson-Plano area. Mr. Fell can review your situation and can advise you on the next steps to take to ensure you get full and fair compensation. Call 972-450-1418 or complete our online contact form to schedule a consultation.