The risk of an accident is part of life on the road, even for the safest drivers. While much of the effort to reduce crashes has been on vehicle technology, traffic law enforcement and combating drinking and driving, another factor plays a role in many crashes: fatigued drivers.
A Colorado driver recently plunged his sport utility vehicle into the Arkansas River after falling asleep at the wheel, KKTV reports. Although the driver escaped unharmed, drowsy driving accidents can cause serious injury and even death.
Some 900 people in Colorado are injured in crashes involving drivers who dozed off at the wheel each year, according to Streetsblog Denver. That number has risen by roughly one-third in recent years. Nationwide, drowsy driving is the cause of some 91,000 accidents per year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Drowsy-driving crashes can happen any time, but most frequently occur at night in the early pre-dawn hours or in the mid-afternoon,” NHTSA said in a recent report. “Drowsy driving is not a new highway safety issue, but it is a problem that has not received the attention it demands.”
The federal driver safety group also said that age plays a factor. NHTSA pointed to statistics showing that drivers ages 16 to 24 years old were nearly twice as likely to be drowsy at the time of a crash than those in the 40 to 59 age range.
Compensation for Colorado Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can be caused by a number of different sources from drowsy or impaired driving to vehicle defects and severe weather.
Drivers generally owe others on the road a “duty of care” to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner. That means maintaining proper speeds, complying with traffic laws and refraining from risky behavior behind the wheel. It also means pulling the car over if a driver is drowsy or fatigued.
A person who is injured in a crash in Colorado has the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the collision. The money damages typically available in these cases are designed to return an injured person to the financial position that he or she was in prior to the crash. In some cases, additional money damages may also be awarded for pain, suffering and emotional distress.
Speak with a Denver Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Colorado, it is important to seek the advice of an experienced Denver accident attorney.
At Levine Law, our attorneys combine decades of experience helping people injured in car and other accidents get the money they deserve. We are committed to guiding clients through the legal process with experience and personalized attention.
Our lawyers are pleased to serve clients throughout Colorado, including in Denver, Colorado Springs, Ft. Collins and Loveland. Call us at 303-333-8000 or contact us online to speak with a Denver accident attorney.
