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Sleep Deprived Drivers In Miami


When Miami residents are busy with personal obligations and work deadlines, often sleep is not prioritized. This is problematic because sleep deprivation can be incredibly dangerous, it can even be the cause of vehicle accidents, including car, truck, and motorcycle collisions.

If you are exhausted but continue with daily life as if sleep was not an issue, you are putting yourself and others at risk. Driving drowsy and sleep deprived driving are dangerous. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a drowsy driver, a Miami car accident lawyer can help you with your personal injury case.

Why Driving Drowsy Is Risky

Everyone knows that driving drunk is reckless and can result in injuries, but few keep in mind the impact of sleep deprivation on technical driving skills. In fact, an individual who has not slept for 24 hours has the same deterioration in their driving skills as an individual with a blood alcohol level of 1.0. The legal blood alcohol limit for driving in Florida is 0.08. This means if you have not rested over the time period of an entire day, you are just as risky on the road as someone who is too intoxicated to drive.

This situation can be exacerbated when individuals are taking sleep aids. Most sleep aids need a minimum of seven hours to pass through your bodily systems. So, if you are unable to sleep and take a sleep aid, you need to keep these timeframes in mind to avoid being groggy when driving.

Ways to Drive Safely and Avoid Collisions

The best way to avoid driving while sleep deprived is to get the sleep your body needs. That said, there are ways to drive safer and do your best to avoid accidents.

  • Stay attuned to your body. If you are driving and notice you are yawning repeatedly and find your attention wandering, it is time to find a place to stop and rest. Your body tells you when sleep is needed.
  • Reschedule your driving. Sometimes, you can delay your trip or reschedule an appointment. When you are exhausted, prioritize your own health.
  • Short-term boosts. Some people can give themselves a short-term boost of energy with coffee, tea, or soda pop. However, using caffeine to stay awake doesn’t work for everyone and, when it does, it only works for a limited time.
  • Share driving duties. Having more than one driver on longer trips can be helpful. When one driver is tired, the other can take over.

Unfortunately, even when a driver is being safe, they are not able to control the behaviors of others. Accidents happen, and it may have happened because the at-fault driver was drowsy. Review your case with a Miami auto accident lawyer to determine if you are eligible for compensation.

After a car accident, you need to know your legal rights. Talk to a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer right away. Our attorneys at Spencer Morgan Law will fight for fair compensation. Contact us today at 305-423-3800 to schedule your free consultation.

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