Shreveport Injury Lawyer > Blog > Auto Accident > Sleep Deprivation and Louisiana Drivers

Sleep Deprivation and Louisiana Drivers

Many Shreveport residents drive on area roads when they are sleep deprived or tired. After all, in Shreveport, LA, there is an average of two cars for each household and the average daily commute is over 18 minutes. That means people have cars and are using them regularly. With these stats, it stands to reason that some of these drivers have not gotten enough rest. Sleepy drivers are risky to themselves and the other cars, motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians that they share the roadways with.

When you are exhausted, do not drive. Drowsy drivers are risky drivers and put themselves and others in danger. If you sustained a bodily injury due to a sleep deprived driver, talk to a Shreveport auto accident lawyer about your options for a personal injury claim.

Risks of Sleepy and Exhausted Drivers

While some dismiss being tired as an inconvenience, the truth is an individual’s technical driving skills decline when a person has not gotten enough rest. Studies have proven this. For example, if a person has not gotten any sleep for 24 hours, the decline in their driving abilities has been shown to be the same as a person who has a 1.0 blood alcohol level. In Louisiana, the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08. So, if a person has not rested for 24 hours, their driving abilities are impaired in ways that can be similar to that or a drunk driver.

Sleep aids can exacerbate the problem. When a person is unable to sleep and ingests sleep aids, they need to remember it takes time for the aids to process through the body. Groggy, sleepy drivers who take a sleep aid and get behind a wheel a few hours later are extremely high risk vehicular operators.

Precautions Drivers Can Take

It is impossible to control the behavior of others, but you are able to make decisions about your own actions. Drive safer with these steps.

Notice your body signals. Do not drive when you feel exhausted.
Reschedule trips. If you have taken a sleep aid or are very drowsy, reschedule your outing.
Share your driving duties. If you don’t feel well enough to drive, hand the keys to your spouse for social outings or carpool with another to work, allow another to drive when you are tired.

When accidents do happen, see a medical professional to have your health assessed. Then, review the details of your case with a Shreveport auto accident lawyer. Recovery of medical bills, lost wages, and property damage could be an option for you. There may even be a path to recovering non-economic damages for pain and suffering as well.

Are you coping with an auto accident injury? Talk to the personal injury lawyers at Rice & Kendig. We truly care about our clients and devote our knowledge, skills and resources toward securing a great result every time. You do not need to navigate complicated negotiations on your own. Together, we can achieve success. Contact us today at 318-222-2772 to schedule your free consultation.

By Rice & Kendig, LLC | Posted on January 29, 2021

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