Many drivers think they can handle driving when they are fatigued. They underestimate the dangers of drowsy driving. They are putting everyone on the road at risk of being seriously injured or killed.
West Palm Beach, FL (PRWEB) December 06, 2013
West Palm Beach car accident lawyer David J. Glatthorn said today that a recent AAA study on drowsy driving puts a spotlight on the significant dangers of fatigued driving.
Glatthorn commented on an AAA report detailed in a news release on November 4 (“One-in-Four Drivers Report Struggling to Stay Awake While Behind the Wheel”). According to AAA, 28 percent of drivers reported being so tired that they had difficulty keeping their eyes open while driving within the past month, with drivers ages 19-24 most likely to report driving while considered “dangerously drowsy” by AAA.
“Fatigued drivers are a major threat on roadways in South Florida and across the United States,” said Glatthorn, who represents victims of negligence and families who lost loved ones in accidents. “Many drivers think they can handle driving when they are fatigued. They underestimate the dangers of drowsy driving. They are putting everyone on the road at risk of being seriously injured or killed. Make no mistake about it. Drowsy driving is impaired driving.”
According to AAA, an estimated 17 percent of fatal crashes and 13 percent resulting in hospitalization involved drowsy drivers in 2010. AAA reports that 95 percent of drivers believe it is “somewhat or completely unacceptable” to drive when a motorist is too tired to keep their eyes open.The AAA study also found that drivers between 19 and 24 are most likely to drive while drowsy. The least likely to report having done so in the previous month were drivers age 16-18 and over the ages of 75.
Glatthorn, a car accident lawyer in West Palm Beach, said that AAA offered some important tips to drivers to help identify when they might be too fatigued to drive and ways to combat drowsy driving.“It’s important for drivers to be aware of the physical and mental signs that they’re too fatigued to be behind the wheel. These include difficulty focusing, keeping your eyes open, having wandering thoughts, veering in and out of your lane or missing traffic signs,” he said. “To combat fatigued driving, AAA recommends getting plenty of sleep before a long trip, schedule breaks to rest, avoid heavy foods and medications that can cause impairment, and travel with an alert passenger who you can share driving duties with.”
Glatthorn said attorneys can help victims injured by drowsy drivers pursue compensation for their losses. A lawyer also can help send a message that negligence by drivers will not be tolerated on Florida roads.
About Attorney David Glatthorn
Glatthorn is the sole practitioner at his West Palm Beach law firm. He handles cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, negligent security, wrongful death, and other types of personal injury cases. Graduating with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of South Florida in 1977 and a J.D. with honors from Florida State University School of Law in 1980, Glatthorn has served victims of personal injuries since 1980.
Attorney Glatthorn is also a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, reserved for the 1% of lawyers nationwide who have received a verdict or settlement worth a million dollars for a client. In addition, Glatthorn is a Board Certified Trial Lawyer, a distinction achieved by only 4% of Florida attorneys.
For a free case consultation, call (800) 990-9394. To find out more about David Glatthorn, visit http://www.davidglatthornlaw.com
David Glatthorn Law is located at 506-A Datura Street, West Palm Beach , FL 33401.