In November, a 35-year-old man who fell asleep behind the wheel crossed over into oncoming traffic and crashed into another car – killing its driver and her 6-year-old child.

Although no one knows that precise moment that sleep overtakes a person’s body, merely feeling sleepy can affect your ability to drive.

In this issue, the Alaska personal injury lawyers with Barber & Associates will talk more about the dangers of driving while sleepy, and how you can recognize your body’s telltale signs that it needs rest.

If you’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence, the expertise of a skilled Alaska personal injury lawyer can be vital in you receiving the justice and compensation you deserve.

For a free consultation, call the Alaska personal injury lawyers with Barber & Associates at 907-276-5858, send us an email, or get in touch online.

How common is driving while sleepy?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirms that 1 in 25 adult drivers have admitted to falling asleep while driving within the past 30 days. The administration goes on to say that as many as 6,000 fatal vehicle crashes occur each year directly because of drowsy drivers.

What are the warning signs of drowsy driving?

As we said above, there’s no concrete evidence of when sleep completely overtakes a person’s body, but here are a few telltale signs that you shouldn’t be behind the wheel.

• Consistent yawning and blinking
• Drifting in and out of your lane
• Hitting the rumble strip on the side of the road
• Missing an exit

What should I do if I’m sleepy while driving?

If you do notice that your body need a rest, find a safe place to pull off the road for a 15 or 20-minute nap in the car. Wait an additional five minutes after waking up before getting back on the road.

If you’re injured by someone else, call the Alaska personal injury lawyers at Barber & Associates.

Here at Barber & Associates, we’ve earned our reputation for aggressively fighting on behalf of Alaskans injured by others. We’ll fight on your behalf for justice and fair compensation so that you can concentrate completely on your recovery.

For a free consultation about your case, call us at 907-276-5858 or reach us via email, or get in touch online.