On behalf of Smiley & Smiley, LLP posted in Car Accidents on Friday, August 12, 2016.

There are more than 83 million sleep-deprived drivers on the road every day. That's a troubling statistic. However, more troubling than that is the fact that these drivers are causing more and more accidents in New York and across the country.

According to a recently released report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, accidents caused by drowsy driving shot up by more than 7 percent last year, and the behavior is considered an "extreme danger." In fact, about 5,000 people were killed in drowsy driving accidents last year.

Drowsy driving may not seem like a problem for those who do it, but it is. In fact, studies show that the behaviors exhibited by sleep-deprived drivers mimic those of drunk drivers.

Various groups have tried to educate people on the dangers of driving, targeting those who are most likely to drive while fatigued. This includes young drivers, people with sleep disorders and people who work very long or unusual hours. Sadly, the message that fatigued driving is dangerous is just not sinking in for too many people and it continues to be a very serious problem.

In terms of what solutions exist for drowsy driving, the answer is that there is no easy answer. Unless a person is a commercial driver, there are no laws telling people when they can and cannot drive for reasons related to fatigue, and there is no fixed rule or method for measuring fatigue.

Because of this, drowsy driving accidents will continue to happen and they will continue to cause pain and suffering for victims and their families. Thankfully, there are legal means of holding a drowsy driver accountable for their actions. While it cannot prevent an accident, a lawsuit can help people collect the damages they deserve and need to recover from an accident. It can also send a powerful reminder that drowsy driving is dangerous, and these drivers can be held responsible for unsafe behavior.

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