When a driver chooses to get behind the wheel despite being extremely tired or sleepy, that driver puts everyone else on the road at risk. If you have been injured due to the negligence of a drowsy driver, you need to speak with an experienced Miami car accident attorney. At our Law Offices, we are committed to representing clients who have been hurt or have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by drowsy driving.A shocking surveillance video released by the Florida Highway Patrol shows an SUV speeding into a toll plaza, sending one of the passengers flying through the air and into a tollbooth. The man miraculously survived, although the full extent of his injuries is not known. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The accident took place near St. Cloud in Osceola County at around 7:15 am on June 3. The Cadillac shown in the video was approaching the tollbooth at full speed when it crashed into a barrier, causing a man to be ejected from the vehicle.
Police believe the accident took place because the driver of the car had fallen asleep. There were 5 passengers in the car, and all of them survived after being rushed to a nearby hospital for their injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol says it released the video to warn others about the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt as well as the risk of harm associated with drowsy driving.
Drowsy driving, also sometimes known as fatigued driving, is a deadly problem in Florida and throughout the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 846 fatalities involving drowsy driving in 2014. Furthermore, NHTSA data reveal that drowsy driving causes 56,000 automobile crashes on an annual basis. Earlier this year, a study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drowsy driving is a factor in almost 10 percent of crashes nationwide.
If you have been hurt in an accident caused by a drowsy driver, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses through a negligence claim. Negligence occurs when a person fails to use reasonable care behind the wheel, thereby causing injuries to another person. Reasonable care is defined as the level of care that a prudent or sensible person would use in the same or similar circumstances. For example, a prudent or sensible driver would not get behind the wheel when he or she was very sleepy, understanding the risk of accidents associated with such conduct.
You should be aware that drowsy driving claims can be challenging to prove. This is because, unlike with drunk driving cases, there are no well-defined tests to determine whether a person was driving while tired or drowsy. Therefore, a claim of drowsy driving typically uses evidence such as the driver’s actions prior to and immediately after the crash.
If a drowsy driver has injured you or a loved one in a preventable car crash, contact the experienced Miami car accident attorneys at our Law Offices as soon as possible. We can examine the facts of your case and help you seek the compensation you deserve for your harm. Call us today at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or feel free to contact us online.
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