Sleeping disorders can be dangerous for your health. It can also be dangerous to have a sleeping disorder and get behind the wheel. Unbeknownst by most people, there are many car accidents and truck accidents caused by sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is an extremely common sleeping disorder that causes sufferers to stop breathing while they sleep. Experts estimate that up to 70 million Americans suffer from some form of this terrible disease. Many people who suffer from sleep apnea are unaware that they have the disorder. Many people also do not realize the connection between car accidents and sleep apnea.
How Is Sleep Apnea Related to Car Accidents?
Car accident lawyers across the United States will tell you that sleep apnea is on the list of the most common causes of car accidents. However, it is not normally listed as sleep apnea. It is more commonly listed as falling asleep at the wheel. Many accidents are caused by people falling asleep or dozing off briefly and then losing control of their vehicle. Sleep apnea can cause serious health problems, especially if it goes untreated for a long period of time. One of the symptoms of sleep apnea is being tired during waking hours. This is because sleep apnea does not allow the person to get proper, deep sleep. With so many people walking around all day being tired, there is always a chance that dozing off behind the wheel will cause car accidents.
If you are involved in a car accident with someone who has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, be sure to inquire about it. The car accident lawyer representing you should always investigate whether the other driver was suffering from any preexisting conditions that led to your car accident. Sleep apnea can cause many different types of car accidents:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Collisions while trying to avoid another vehicle
- Collisions that result from a car going the wrong way
- Losing control of the vehicle and running off the road
Make sure you have a car accident lawyer representing you during your claim to ensure that you are getting accurate information about any conditions leading up to your car accident.
Trucking Industry and Sleep Apnea
Sufferers of sleep apnea may be completely unaware of this dangerous sleeping disorder until it is too late and car accidents occur, especially car accidents involving injuries or fatalities. Long-haul truck drivers already have a very tough job to perform. Often, their driving shifts can last 10 hours at a time. The trucking industry has a major problem with tractor trailer drivers falling asleep behind the wheel. One of the problems is that many truck drivers suffer from undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea. This is a recipe for disaster given the huge number of large trucks on the roads and highways of the nation on any given day.
Media Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Fight for Clients Injured in Car Accidents Caused by Sleepy Drivers
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a motorist who fell asleep while driving, hiring the right law firm is the best decision to make. The Media car accident lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. are ready to help. Our experienced legal team will fight to secure the compensation for which you are entitled. Call us at 610-565-3701 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. Located in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout Delaware County, Chester County, and Montgomery County.