Much has been written in recent years about fatigued driving and the dangers of lack of sleep. As many people face hectic schedules, it seems that inadequate sleep is becoming the standard rather than the exception. Research has shown that the effects of not getting adequate sleep are much more profound than we have realized in the past. Not getting enough sleep actually kills. It leads to car and truck accidents in Pompano Beach and across the country each year. It reduces life expectancy and can affect everything from mood to hormones to thinking ability.
While many people know that fatigued driving can lead to car accidents in Pompano Beach or their community, there is still much confusion about what actually constitutes adequate sleep. Mostly experts say that at least eight hours of sleep a night is required for the average individual. However, individual sleep needs vary based on genetics, age, and health conditions. The general rule of thumb is that if you wake up feeling tired after a full night’s sleep, you likely have not gotten adequate sleep.
Even if you get to the proper number of hours for your body, however, keep in mind that quality of sleep matters as well. Frequent interruptions throughout the night due to a noisy environment can mean that you end up fatigued to a dangerous degree, even if you get 10 hours of sleep overall. Patients who have sleep apnea may be getting seven hours, eight hours, or more sleep at night but may wake up feeling dangerously exhausted. Each year, traffic accidents in Pompano Beach and other communities occur due to just this sleep condition. If you are feeling tired throughout the day and require naps or additional rest, you may wish to speak with a doctor to determine your sleep needs and to determine whether there are any medical conditions that could be affecting your sleep.
Inadequate sleep can lead to a number of problems and issues, including:
•Drowsiness
•Sleep latency or falling asleep
•Moodiness
•Anxiety and depression
•Difficulties with thinking or concentration
•Behavioral changes
•Problems with cognitive processes
•Poor judgment, organization, planning, problem solving, and critical thinking
•Relationship issues
•Memory problems
•Disorientation or confusion
•Poor reaction times
Many of these issues can be potentially fatal behind the wheel of a vehicle. Each year, for example, truck accidents in Pompano Beach and other communities occur because a truck driver falls asleep behind the wheel due to extreme fatigue or uses poor judgment or has poor response times due to fatigue. Federal laws are designed to help prevent this by ensuring that truck drivers rest for specific periods of time. However, these rules have not been adequate in completely eradicating fatigued driving, in part because these rules do not address the issue of insomnia or sleep apnea and in part because drivers sometimes ignore the rules in favor of meeting work deadlines.
If you have been injured by a truck driver who may have fallen asleep at the wheel or who showed signs of sleep deprivation, you may have a legal claim that can help you recover damages for property damage, lost wages, medical costs, and other expenses. A truck accident in Homestead or your community can be devastating both financially and emotionally. There is no need to go through the process alone. If you think you may have a case, you can always contact the Flaxman Law Group for a free case consultation.