Several factors might increase your personal risk of injury or death from a drowsy driving accident. But you might also reduce that risk by taking proper precautions against driver fatigue. Some steps that might help you, depending upon your individual risk factors for driver fatigue, include:
* Using bright light treatments to help reset your sleep-wake cycle;
* Seeking appropriate medical treatments for narcolepsy, sleep apnea or insomnia;
* Working with your employer to manage or modify your work schedule (if your employer seems receptive to such employee needs);
* Relying on alerting devices (but the only one that’s proven effective so far is the rumble shoulder strip used on some rural roads);
* Engaging in shift work measures in the workplace to keep yourself alert;
* Playing lively music or engaging in interesting conversation with another car occupant (or your dog, or yourself – whatever helps you avoid driver fatigue);
* Taking breaks from driving about every 2 hours to avoid a drowsy driving accident;
* Finding a place to stay overnight if you’ve driven more than 8 hours in a single day; and
* Using behavior modifications (such as caffeine, napping and sitting in uncomfortable positions in the car) to keep yourself from being lulled to sleep.
Of course, as Coastal Bend, TX car accident attorneys, we know that the best way to avoid a drowsy driving accident would be to avoid driving when you feel fatigued. But you can’t always do that. And demanding work schedules, energetic children, distant destinations and any number of other factors can all disrupt your best-laid plans and intentions. They can disrupt your sleep schedule too and cause driver fatigue. Fatigue is pretty much a fact of life in the industrialized western world.
If all of your best efforts still won’t prevent a drowsy driving accident, you can call on Denena Points, PC for help. We’ll provide a free legal consultation to discuss your accident issues, and also provide a free book on the essentials of Texas auto accident claims. Our Coastal Bend, TX car accident attorneys have the experience, knowledge and negotiation and trial skills you need to make a successful auto accident injury claim. Put our knowledge and experience to work for your benefit. Let us help you recover.