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The western way of life is fast-paced and in the United States, we are all busy. As a result, many Americans report not getting enough sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation is a problem in our country. Sleep debt is something that affects every part of our lives from our ability to function normally when we are awake to our physical and mental health.

While the amount of sleep we need changes throughout our lives, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) there are general recommendations.

  • Infants should have about 12-16 hours a day with naps
  • Children 1-2 years need 11-14 hours a day including naps
  • Children 3-5 years need 10-13 hours a day including naps
  • Children 6-12 need 9-12 hours a day
  • Teens 13-18 need 8-10 hours a day
  • Adults 18 years and older need 7-8 hours per day

Sleep Debt And Driving

Sleep deprivation puts drivers at increased risk for accidents. Most people think that reckless, negligent driving is just for those who are intoxicated or distracted when they are behind the wheel. However, driving while drowsy is just as negligent and dangerous as driving while intoxicated.

The American Sleep Association reports that upwards of 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder. There are approximately 4.7% of these individuals report falling asleep while driving at least once in a month. Without enough sleep, your brain is unable to properly function and which affects your alertness, reaction-time, decision-making abilities, attention, and memory. All of these cognitive functions are critical for drivers to have while on the road.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1 out of 6 fatal car accidents in our country is the result of a sleepy driver at the wheel. In 2013, there were more than 70,000 crashes due to sleepy drivers. The reality is, that falling asleep behind the wheel puts not only the driver and their passengers at significant risk for devastating car accidents with potentially fatal results, but it also puts others that share the road at increased risk.

What Legal Action Can You Take If A Drowsy Driver Causes You Injuries In An Accident?

A blue and orange logo is shown on the side of a black background.Drowsy drivers that cause traffic accidents are liable for the damages they inflict on others. As is true with any accident, when you have sustained injuries in an accident that was not your fault you should first seek medical attention. This will ensure you have your injuries properly diagnosed and that you are able to obtain the right treatment plan to help you recover.

Then, get in touch with the Roscoe personal injury lawyers at the Alexander J. Smith Law Offices. We have the personal injury support you want representing you when you need compensation to help you with your damages after an accident.

Our team of Janesville, Wisconsin personal injury lawyers will help you navigate the claims process and answer all of your questions along the way. We will fight so you see a fair settlement. Call us today to set up a free consultation at (608) 237-7035 for residents of Wisconsin or (815) 2439686 for residents of Illinois. One of our highly knowledgeable Wisconsin and Illinois motorcycle accident attorneys are here to discuss your accident experience with you.