Car Accident From Drowsy Driver

A car accident from drowsy driver occurred near New Meadows, Idaho injuring two. According to police reports, the driver fell asleep while driving north on Highway 95. The car accident from drowsy driver occurred when a car drifted across the southbound lanes into a borrow pit and hit a power pole, which fell onto the highway with live wires. The driver and passenger of the car were taken to St. Luke’s hospital in McCall, Idaho. The highway was blocked for three hours while crews cleared the power lines. The condition of the driver and passenger is currently unknown.

Driver Fatigue Can Be Fatal

Car accident from drowsy driver occur daily. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 100,000 police-reported crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 deaths happen due to drowsy driving each year in the United States. However, these statistics most likely underestimate the number, as data collection and police coding and training for drowsy driving is inconsistent. Also, education regarding drowsy driving is not a priority in most jurisdictions, and education in driver’s manuals for most states is minimal or possibly misleading. The truth is, if you are sleep-deprived or fatigued, suffering from sleep loss, or driving long distances without proper rest breaks, you are at risk for drowsy driving. Specific at-risk groups include young people under the age of 26, shift workers with long work hours and nigh shift workers, commercial drivers (at least 15% of all heavy truck crashes involve fatigue), people with undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders, and business travelers who may be jet-lagged.

If you are unsure whether you are drowsy, there are some warning signs that you need to pull over and get some rest.

• Having difficulty focusing.
• Frequent blinking or heavy eyelids.
• Daydreaming and having wandering/disconnected thoughts.
• Trouble remembering the last few miles driven or are missing exits or traffic signs.
• Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes.
• Trouble keeping your head up.
• Drifting from your lane or hitting a shoulder rumble strip.
• Feeling restless and irritable.

If you have been the victim of a drowsy driver, call the attorneys at Parke Gordon to get you the compensation you deserve. Call (208) 322-7274.