Drowsy Driving Accidents: Why Fatigue Is as Dangerous as Drunk Driving

Find out how to get justice after a drowsy driving crash in Nashville

Drowsy driving is a hidden danger on the road and one that too many people dismiss. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving resulted in 693 fatalities in 2022.

When exhaustion takes over, a driver’s ability to react, focus, and make decisions suffers. Yet many people convince themselves they can push through fatigue without consequences. They assume that tired driving isn’t as bad as drunk driving. Too often, the result is a serious car accident.

When someone chooses to drive while sleep-deprived, they put themselves and everyone around them in danger. Studies show that lack of sleep for 24 hours can have the same effect as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10%, which is well over the legal limit in Tennessee.

How does fatigue affect driving?

Sleepiness sneaks up on drivers and makes them less aware of their surroundings and slower to react. When someone is tired, their brain doesn’t function at full capacity. They may not even realize how much their driving has been affected until they swerve off the road or narrowly avoid a crash.

Fatigue impacts driving by:

Slowing reaction times: A tired driver needs more time to respond to traffic signals, sudden stops, or road hazards.
Reducing focus: Sleep deprivation makes it harder to concentrate and increases the chance of drifting out of a lane or missing important signs.
Weakening decision-making: Fatigue dulls judgment and leads to poor choices such as speeding or tailgating.
Causing microsleeps: A driver may briefly doze off for a few seconds without realizing it, which can be deadly at high speeds.

What causes drowsy driving?

Fatigue-related crashes happen for many reasons, but they all stem from the same issue: drivers getting behind the wheel when they aren’t fully alert. Some of the most common causes of drowsy driving include:

Not getting enough sleep: Many people don’t get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night, which leads to chronic fatigue.
Long hours on the road: Truck drivers, delivery workers, and rideshare drivers often work long shifts, which increases their risk of exhaustion.
Shift work: People who work overnight or rotating shifts struggle to maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
Sleep disorders: Conditions like sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.
Medications: Many prescription and over-the-counter drugs cause drowsiness.
Alcohol impairment: Even small amounts of alcohol (within the legal limit) can induce drowsiness, especially for drivers who are already sleep-deprived.
Time of day: Most drowsy driving crashes happen between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the late afternoon. These times align with natural dips in the body’s circadian rhythm, making drivers more vulnerable to fatigue.
Driving alone: Many of these accidents involve a lone driver who drifts off the road at high speed without braking. This suggests the driver was either asleep or too sluggish to react in time to avoid the crash.
Riskier roadways: Rural roads and highways see a high number of drowsy driving crashes. Fewer streetlights, long stretches of road, and less traffic make it easier for a fatigued driver to zone out or fall asleep behind the wheel.

What are the warning signs of drowsy driving?

Fatigue doesn’t always hit all at once. It builds gradually, and drivers may not notice the warning signs until they’re dangerously close to falling asleep at the wheel. Some key signs include:

Inconsistent speed: Speeding up and slowing down without realizing it can indicate a lack of focus and delayed reaction time.
Difficulty keeping eyes open: Struggling to keep your eyes from closing or experiencing heavy eyelids means the body is fighting sleep.
Head bobbing or nodding off: Brief, uncontrollable head jerks are a sign of microsleeps, which can last for a few seconds and be extremely dangerous while driving.
Feeling restless or irritable: Fatigue can make drivers anxious, impatient, or easily frustrated by other vehicles on the road.
Mind wandering or daydreaming: Losing track of thoughts or realizing you haven’t been fully paying attention to driving is a sign of cognitive impairment caused by fatigue.
Struggling to maintain proper following distance: Drowsy drivers may not realize they are tailgating or failing to react appropriately to traffic changes.
Hitting the rumble strip: Drifting onto the shoulder or into the opposite lane often indicates that a driver has briefly lost focus or fallen asleep.
Difficulty keeping hands steady on the wheel: Weaving slightly or feeling like the vehicle is harder to control can be a warning sign of drowsiness.
Increased blinking or rubbing eyes: The body tries to compensate for tiredness by blinking more frequently or rubbing the eyes to reduce strain.
Feeling zoned out or disconnected: If the drive starts to feel automatic or like a blur, fatigue may be reducing awareness of surroundings.

How can Tennessee drivers prevent drowsy driving?

Staying alert behind the wheel requires planning and responsible decision-making. Drivers can avoid drowsy driving by:

Getting at least seven to nine hours of rest per night.
Taking breaks on long trips, every two hours or every 100 miles to stretch and rest.
Avoiding peak drowsy hours late at night or early in the morning.
Using coffee or energy drinks strategically, but not as a substitute for sleep.
Recognizing when fatigue starts to set in and taking a moment to rest.

Many modern vehicles also come with drowsiness detection systems that alert drivers when they show signs of fatigue. While helpful, these features can’t replace safe driving habits.

What are the legal consequences of drowsy driving?

Unlike drunk driving, drowsy driving doesn’t have strict legal penalties in most states, but that doesn’t mean it’s without consequences. When a drowsy driver causes a crash, they can still face serious legal and financial repercussions.

This includes covering medical bills for injured victims, the cost of vehicle repairs or replacements, lost wages, and other related expenses. Drivers who cause serious or fatal crashes due to fatigue can still face legal consequences. Prosecutors may charge them with reckless driving, negligence, or even vehicular manslaughter if their actions resulted in a death.

What should I do after a car accident caused by a drowsy driver?

If a drowsy driver causes a crash, the aftermath can feel overwhelming. In these critical moments, taking the right steps can help protect your rights and build a strong case for compensation. Here’s what to do:

Call 911 immediately

Call the police immediately and call for emergency medical help if you or anyone else is injured. Wait for the police to arrive and document the crash scene. They’ll create a police report that can later serve as a basis for a deeper investigation into your crash.

Gather evidence at the scene

If you’re physically able, take photos of everything: vehicle damage, skid marks, debris, traffic signals, and road conditions. Capture any injuries you or your passengers have. Also, exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver, and get witness statements and contact information.

Seek medical attention, even if you feel okay

After a drowsy driving car accident, adrenaline can mask pain. What seems like a minor ache could turn into something more serious in the days ahead. Seeing a doctor creates a medical record that links your injuries to the crash.

Report the crash to your insurance provider

You’ll need to report the crash to your insurance provider to initiate a claim, but be careful about what you say. Only provide basic information about when and where the crash occurred, as well as who was involved.

If the other driver’s insurance company contacts you, avoid giving them a recorded statement without an attorney present. Anything you say can later be used to downplay your injuries or shift the blame onto you.

Get a skilled Nashville drowsy driving accident lawyer to fight for you

If you were injured in a car accident caused by a drowsy driver, you shouldn’t have to deal with the aftermath alone. Fatigued drivers put others at serious risk, and when their negligence causes harm, they should be held accountable. The Law Office of Eric Beasley has a long history of standing up for injury victims in Nashville and throughout Tennessee.

We offer a free consultation to review the details of your accident, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. If we take your case, you won’t pay anything upfront, and you don’t owe us a dime unless we win for you. Contact us online or call us today to set up a free consultation and let us help you seek justice.

“If you are looking for an honest trustworthy lawyer that keeps you informed and is always on top of his game, you want Eric. He is professional, honest, and reliable. He is very easy to talk to and straight to the point. I personally would not go to anyone else.” – KG, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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