It has been reported that nearly 60% of adults have driven while they are drowsy. Many Chicago drivers may be fatigued when commuting to and from work. This inattentive state of driving combined with the unpredictable winter weather conditions may cause serious car accidents that can hurt other people.

It can be difficult to determine whether or not an accident was caused by a tired driver. Police do not always receive proper training in addressing sleepiness in crash reports, and some states do not identify the condition at all in reports. The training that is available can be inconsistent between states.

Recently, police issued two citations to a driver who admitted to falling asleep while driving. The driver claims he was tired from working overnight shifts at his job. The report states that the man fell asleep at the wheel and failed to stop for a car that was stopped in traffic in front of him. He crashed into the car, which then crashed into another car.

The accident may have damaged all three cars involved in the accident. There are no indications of personal injury to any of the victims, but similar car accidents frequently cause serious physical damages.

Drowsy driving has been compared to drunk driving. Staying up for nearly 24 hours is comparable to having a blood-alcohol level of over .10, which is over the legal limit. The likelihood that a drowsy driver will get in a collision increases as a person gets fewer hours of sleep. In this state, reflexes are not as sharp and neither is the focus that is needed to be a safe driver.

It can be difficult to determine right away if fatigue played a role in a crash. It may still be very important to pursue compensation from a person responsible for an accident.

Source: Park Ridge Herald-Advocate, "Park Ridge police: Driver who caused 3-car crash asleep at wheel," Jan. 16, 2012