The San Diego personal injury attorneys at our firm often see accidents that occur as a result of drowsiness, but a high-profile case reminds all of us that sleep-related accidents can happen to anyone.  Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Murray of drove off Interstate 190 last week in what was reported to have occurred as a result of sleepiness despite arising speculation.

The accident occurred in the pre-dawn hours, a common time of day when sleep-related accidents can often occur. Lt. Gov. Murray said in a statement that he had been obeying traffic laws by driving 65 miles-per-hour but the details of his accident were unclear, although he stated he had slid off black ice.

“Listen, this was an accident. It happened very quickly and I’ve taken responsibility for that. I don’t know what more I can say other than that I’m anxious to get back to work,” Murray replied.

The Boston Globe reported that Murray cited poor sleep the night before since his 5-year-old daughter had been up the night before. Despite speculation, Murray assures the public the accident had occurred due to falling asleep.

“Around quarter of five I gave up trying to sleep and decided to take a drive, get a coffee and a paper and prepare for the day,’’ he said in a statement to the paper. “I did so to get a sense of the storm and power damage in the aftermath of the surprise snow storm that had just hit much of the state.’’

Keeping alert behind the wheel

It’s never been more important to drive while you’re well-rested and alert. Sleepy driving is one of our top causes of car accidents in San Diego. Although it’s often easier said than done, you can do your part to reduce the risk of accident by considering these tips for safe driving.

Try to drive during daylight hours

If you have a flexible schedule, arrange your meetings in the afternoon to avoid dusk and dawn, some of the most common times for sleep-related car accidents.

Do not drive when fatigued

It goes without saying, but consider driving when you’re alert, well-rested, and able to do so without the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel.

Know the warning signs of fatigue

If you feel any of the following symptoms, avoid driving. Keep it safe, and either pull to a safe rest area, ask another driver to take over, or simply sleep until you are ready to safety drive.

• Heavy eyes
• Stiffness and cramps
• Humming in ears
• Delayed reaction times
• Fumbling with ordinary car functions
• Crossing lanes unintentionally

If you’ve been injured in a car accident

Sometimes, car accidents can happen even with prevention in place. If you have been involved in an accident and suspect it was someone else’s fault, we may be able to help. Every San Diego personal injury lawyer at our firm works hard to get injured people maximum compensation. The consultation is free so call us now at 1-800-655-6585.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.