Sleeping Disorders and Sleep Apnea Major Factors in Vehicle Crashes
For the last two years, I have noticed increasing attention paid by the federal government on sleeping disorders causing automobile, truck, and commercial bus accidents. The NSTB has been investigating sleep apnea, a disorder that causes people to fall asleep while at the wheel of a vehicle making that vehicle a deadly weapon. I have written before about the dangers of sleep apnea and driver fatigue with regard to truck drivers. However other incidents cited in letters to the NSTB Chairman Deborah Hersman indicate the following incidents:
Motorcoach with passengers in January 2008 careened down a mountainside killing 9 people and injuring 43 others
Airline pilots on a flight from Hilo, Hawaii flew past their destination while the pilot was later diagnosed with sleep apnea
A trolley train crash in Newton, Massachusetts was caused most likely because the driver fell asleep from sleep apnea
It is noted that at least seven to ten percent of adults have sleep apnea in some moderate form and many people do not even know they have it. The NSTB said the issue of people falling asleep behind the wheels of vehicles has long been a concern and they are now taking steps to address this issue.
If you or a loved one is aware of a tendency to fall asleep, please seek immediate medical examination so that you too do not present a danger to others on the road. The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily are committed to promoting vehicle safety. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, please contact one of our experienced lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
