If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a drowsy driver, you’re not alone. Every year, thousands of people suffer serious injuries or lose their lives because another driver chose to get behind the wheel while fatigued. The shocking truth is that drowsy driving impairs your ability to operate a vehicle just as severely as alcohol does. At Odom Law Firm, our experienced fatigued driver accident lawyers in Fayetteville, Arkansas understand the devastating impact these preventable accidents have on victims and their families. We’re here to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
The Shocking Statistics: Drowsy Driving vs. Drunk Driving
The numbers tell a compelling story about the dangers of fatigued driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), estimates in 2017 state that 91,000 police‑reported crashes involved drowsy drivers and driver fatigue. While NHTSA police-reported data shows hundreds of deaths annually, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates drowsy driving contributes to approximately 6,400 fatalities and 109,000 injuries annually, indicating significant underreporting in official statistics.
Research from the National Sleep Foundation reveals that 60% of drivers admit to driving while drowsy, and 37% have actually fallen asleep at the wheel. Research showed that 18 hours without sleep produces the same impairment as a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05%, while 24 hours without sleep produces impairment equivalent to significant alcohol intoxication.
According to the NHTSA, Drivers who sleep less than 5 hours are significantly 11.5 times more likely to cause an accident, with those sleeping 4-5 hours experiencing 4.3 times the crash rate compared to drivers sleeping 7+ hours. These statistics demonstrate that fatigue is not a minor inconvenience—it’s a serious public safety threat comparable to drunk driving accidents.
Why Fatigued Drivers Are as Dangerous as Intoxicated Drivers
The science behind driver fatigue reveals why drowsy driving poses such a significant danger. When you’re tired, your brain functions similarly to how it does under the influence of alcohol. Your reaction time slows dramatically, your ability to focus deteriorates, and your judgment becomes impaired.
A fatigued driver experiences loss of concentration, making it difficult to maintain awareness of road conditions and other vehicles. They struggle to judge distances and speeds accurately, which can lead to catastrophic collisions. Perhaps most dangerously, fatigued drivers can experience microsleeps—brief, uncontrollable episodes where they fall asleep for a few seconds. At highway speeds, a car travels the length of a football field during just a 3-second microsleep, leaving no opportunity to react to hazards.
Additionally, drowsy drivers often experience blurred vision and tunnel vision, further compromising their ability to navigate safely. These impairments make fatigued driving every bit as dangerous as drunk driving, yet it receives far less legal scrutiny and public awareness. If you’ve suffered injuries in such an accident, catastrophic injury claims may apply to your situation, including brain injury and spinal cord injury cases.
Common Causes of Fatigued Driving Accidents in Arkansas
Understanding what causes driver fatigue helps explain why these accidents happen and who might be liable. Several factors contribute to fatigued driving:
- Sleep deprivation from insufficient nighttime rest
- Chronic sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, or narcolepsy
- Long work shifts, particularly in transportation and commercial driving industries
- Undiagnosed or untreated sleep apnea
- Medication side effects that cause drowsiness
- Poor sleep quality due to stress, anxiety, or medical conditions
- Overnight travel and long-distance travel without adequate breaks
- Untreated medical conditions affecting sleep patterns
Commercial truck drivers face particular pressure to meet delivery deadlines, often driving for extended periods without adequate rest. Federal regulations limit driving hours, but violations occur regularly. When a fatigued commercial driver causes an accident, both the driver and their employer may be held liable for negligence. Truck accident claims involving fatigue require specialized knowledge of federal trucking regulations and industry standards. Our car accident lawyers have extensive experience handling these complex cases.
How to Identify a Drowsy Driver on the Road
Recognizing the warning signs of a drowsy driver can help you avoid a collision. If you notice another vehicle exhibiting these behaviors, increase your distance. Consider reporting the driver to law enforcement:
- Swerving between lanes without signaling
- Drifting off the road onto the shoulder
- Driving significantly below the speed limit
- Missing traffic signals, stop signs, or red lights
- Veering across lane markings
- Erratic speed changes—suddenly accelerating or decelerating
- Failure to use turn signals or headlights
- Delayed responses to traffic changes
If you witness a drowsy driver, maintain a safe distance and, if possible, note their license plate and vehicle description to report to police. If you’ve been involved in a collision with a drowsy driver, hit and run accidents or other car accident claims may apply to your situation.
Legal Liability for Fatigued Driving Accidents
In Arkansas, establishing liability in a fatigued driving accident requires proving that the drowsy driver owed you a duty of care and breached that duty by driving while impaired by fatigue. Every driver has a legal obligation to operate their vehicle safely and to refrain from driving when they know they’re too tired to do so safely.
When a driver chooses to get behind the wheel despite being dangerously fatigued, they breach this duty of care. If that breach directly causes your injuries, you have grounds for a personal injury claim. Evidence of fatigue can include the driver’s own admission of tiredness, work records showing excessive hours, medical records indicating sleep disorders, and expert testimony about the driver’s impaired state at the time of the accident.
Commercial drivers face heightened legal standards. Federal regulations establish mandatory rest periods and maximum driving hours. Violations of these regulations can establish negligence per se—meaning the violation itself proves negligence without requiring additional evidence. If a commercial driver caused your accident while violating federal driving hour regulations, this significantly strengthens your case. Learn more about federal trucking regulations and how they apply to your claim.
Why Choose Odom Law Firm for Your Fatigued Driver Accident Case
Since 1982, Odom Law Firm has exclusively focused on personal injury law, helping accident victims throughout Arkansas and beyond recover compensation for their injuries. Our team includes six experienced attorneys with over 100 combined years of legal experience. Multiple attorneys hold Martindale-Hubbell AV ratings—the highest peer review rating available—and have been recognized as Super Lawyers Rising Stars.
Our founding attorney’s background as a former insurance adjuster gives us knowledge of how insurance companies evaluate and defend fatigued driving claims. We understand their tactics and know how to counter them effectively. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for clients injured in motor vehicle accidents, including significant settlements in cases involving drowsy drivers.
When you choose Odom Law Firm, you get:
- Extensive experience with motor vehicle accident claims and fatigued driving cases
- Access to accident reconstruction experts who can establish how fatigue contributed to your accident
- Knowledge of federal trucking regulations for commercial driver cases
- Attorneys recognized for legal excellence and trial advocacy
- Personalized case evaluation and strategy tailored to your specific situation
- No upfront fees—we work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you
- Dedicated representation from experienced trial lawyers who aren’t afraid to take cases to court
We serve clients throughout Fayetteville, Northwest Arkansas, and across the state. Our commitment to our clients’ recovery drives everything we do. Visit our case results page to see examples of settlements and verdicts we’ve obtained for clients.
What to Do If You’ve Been Hit by a Drowsy Driver
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a fatigued driver, taking the right steps immediately after the collision can significantly impact your case. First, document the accident scene thoroughly. Take photographs of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible evidence of the other driver’s fatigue.
Obtain contact information from all witnesses, as their testimony about the driver’s behavior before the collision can be crucial. Request a copy of the police report and all accident documentation. Seek immediate medical attention, even if you don’t think your injuries are serious—some injuries develop over time, and medical records establish the connection between the accident and your injuries.
Preserve any evidence of the driver’s fatigue, such as their admission that they were tired, work records showing excessive driving hours, or medical records indicating sleep disorders. Critically, do not speak with the other driver’s insurance company without legal representation. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize claims, and anything you say can be used against you.
Contact an experienced accident attorney immediately. The sooner you have legal representation, the sooner we can begin investigating your case, preserving evidence, and protecting your rights. Learn more about whether you need a lawyer for your car accident.
Contact Us: You Deserve Compensation for Drowsy Driving Injuries
Drowsy driving is preventable. When a driver chooses to operate a vehicle while dangerously fatigued, they make a negligent decision that can devastate your life. You shouldn’t have to bear the financial burden of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by someone else’s recklessness.
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a drowsy driver in Fayetteville or anywhere in Arkansas, Odom Law Firm is ready to fight for your rights. Our experienced fatigued driver accident lawyers have the knowledge, resources, and determination to pursue maximum compensation for your injuries. We offer free consultations with no obligation, and we work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact Odom Law Firm today for your free case evaluation. Call 479-442-7575 or visit our website to schedule your consultation. Let our team help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.