Sleep Apnea & Driving: A Dangerous Combination
Life can be tiring, and all of us have moments where we feel drained and fatigued during the course of our day. For many of us, this isn’t linked to anything serious, but for others, it can be a sign of a troubling underlying condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that causes a person to stop breathing for short periods of time while they’re sleeping. The potential health effects of this are varied and dangerous, but one of the more immediate ones
is how it can leave someone feeling tired due to a lack of proper rest. While this may not sound dangerous at first, it’s far more critical when you take into account the rise of drowsy driving.
How Severe Of A Problem Is Drowsy Driving?
Drowsy driving is a problem both in how frequently it occurs, and how severely it impairs the ability of a driver. Driving after not sleeping for at least 20 hours, can impair a motorist just as much as having a blood-alcohol level of .08%. Additionally, studies have shown that over 300,000 crashes occur annually in the United States, due to drowsy driving. Many of these drivers may suffer from sleep apnea and not even know it’s the cause of their drowsiness. Unfortunately, without the proper treatment, this issue could continue, making many of their driving experiences that much more dangerous because the underlying condition is not being treated. Regardless of the reason behind it, drowsy driving is negligent driving, and if you’ve been injured by such a motorist, you should contact an experienced auto injury attorney.
Can Sleep Apnea Be Treated?
Yes! The good news for those suffering from an obstructive sleep disorder is that it can be treated. A doctor may have you participate in a sleep study, where you visit a medical center to sleep and a machine monitors your sleep habits and breathing. If you’re found to have sleep apnea, you may be given a special machine and mask, known as a CPAP, which will help push air through your airways while you sleep. Not only will this help you treat your sleep apnea condition, but it can also lead to you feeling more awake and alert during the course of the day. Alertness is important for reasons other than driving, but making sure you’re alert behind the wheel can help you avoid a crash, even when others are at fault for it. This is also why if you’re involved in a crash that another person is at fault for, it’s a good idea to speak with an auto accident attorney to ensure the at-fault party is held responsible.
Hit By A Drowsy Driver In Arizona? Call ELG Law!
No one should be on the road if they’re unfit to drive. As important as it is to get to where we need to go, we owe it to ourselves and others, to make sure we’re awake and alert enough to drive safely. If you’ve been injured in a crash due to someone’s drowsy driving, contact ELG Law at (623) 877-3600 for a free consultation. These crashes can be devastating both financially and physically, and those who are at-fault deserve to pay for their failure to drive responsibly. These accidents are avoidable with proper care. The attorneys at ELG Law have over 55 years of combined lawyer experience and can help you get the money you need to try and recover from your crash. Call ELG Law today and see if we can get your case started.
