Story Highlights:
Date: November 4, 2011, 11/4/2011
Location: Ephrata, Grant County, Washington
Type:
Car accidentOutcome: One injured
One person was injured in a collision near Ephrata after falling asleep at the wheel.Around 3 p.m. a 21-year-old man was driving northbound on State Route 17 when he fell asleep at the wheel and drifted off the road and struck a guard rail.
He was taken to Samaritan Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Washington State Patrol is investigating the cause of the accident and believe alcohol and/or drugs could have been involved.
Falling Asleep at the Wheel Statistics
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes annually involve drowsiness and/or fatigue as a principal causal factor. Those crashes result in an estimated 1,500 fatalities and 71,000 injuries each year, and an annual monetary loss of approximately $12.5 billion. More than 10 percent of drivers admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel, while more than 20 percent say they have momentarily dozed while driving, according to the study of 1,024 drivers.
Warning signs to look out for:
Continuously yawning, day-dreaming, or wandering in the lane
Your reactions unintentionally speeding up or slowing down.
Eyes feel stiff or heavy and you find your thoughts are unfocused
Your car wanders over the center line or off the edge of the road
Tips to avoid falling asleep at the wheel:
- Avoiding driver fatigue on long trips.
- Drivers should give themselves plenty of time to get to their destinations and schedule in regular breaks.
- For long trips plan in advance so you know where you are going to take a break.
- Take a break at least every 2 hours.
- Plan to stay somewhere overnight if you are going on a long journey.
- Share the driving - and make sure to take rest when you are not driving.
- Try not to drive when you would normally be asleep (early mornings and late nights.)
- Caffeine provides a quick, but short-lived improvement in alertness. So, to capitalize on its benefits, one should use it only when a boost is needed.
- Drink water, eat fruit and healthy snacks rather than fatty and sugary food.
Seattle Drunk Driving Accident Victim Attorneys
We Only Represent Victims of Drunk Drivers.Not DUI Offenders. In Washington State, 54% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involve a driver that was under the influence of alcohol. In 2009 265 people in Washington State lost their lives in drunk driving crashes.
In Washingon State there is a sharp increase in the number of drunk driving incidents near major holidays. The
drunk driving victim lawyers at Davis Law Group have experience dealing with collisions that were caused by someone who was under the influence of alcohol. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed due to drunk driving crash Seattle attorney Christopher Davis has a team of dedicated and experienced lawyers th at will fight for the highest possible compensation for you.
Category: Drunk Driving (DUI) Collisions
Davis Law Group and attorney Chris Davis has been featured in news reports on these local and national news sources:
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