Anaheim Car Accident Caused by Sleepy Driver
One person sustained injuries in an Anaheim car accident, after a driver fell asleep at the wheel and rear-ended another vehicle. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred the morning of April 2, 2010 in the westbound lanes of the 91 Freeway, near Lemon Street, in Anaheim. California Highway Patrol officials said the driver of a Toyota Corolla fell asleep at the wheel while driving in the number three lane. When traffic slowed, he rear-ended a GMC truck.
Officials say that the driver of the Corolla had just worked the graveyard shift. Instead of going home to get some sleep, he apparently, decided to go to his friend's house. A passenger in the Corolla tried to steer the car and avoid the collision, but that didn't help. Neither the driver nor the passenger of the Corolla was injured. The driver of the GMC was transported to a local hospital with head pain.
I hope the driver of the GMC truck did not sustain any major head injuries. I wish the victim a speedy and complete recovery.
Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 21 deaths and 2,018 injuries involving car accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, in 2008, car accidents claimed 152 lives and injured 13,414 people, according to the CHP report.
The Dangers of Fatigued Driving
Based on this news report, this was a car accident caused by a fatigued driver. Sleepy drivers cause thousands of car crashes that result in serious injury or death in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2007, fatigue was involved in at least 18 percent of fatal accidents and accounts for about 7 percent of all accidents. The agency's report titled "Tomorrow's Roads: Safer for Everyone," also identifies driver fatigue as one of the main areas of driver behavior that needs to be addressed if the target for reducing the number of serious car accidents by 40 percent, by the year 2010, is to be achieved.
Fault and Liability
In this particular case, it seems to me that the driver of the Toyota Corolla made a poor choice to get behind the wheel after pulling a graveyard shift. When drivers make such decisions, it is important to remember that not only are they putting their lives at risk, but also imperil the lives of other commuters. If the driver of the Corolla is determined to have been at-fault, the injured driver of the GMC could seek compensation for medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy and other related damages. The best Anaheim personal injury lawyers will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.
None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.
