Columbia Drowsy Driving Accident Lawyer

Fatigue behind the wheel poses one of the most underestimated dangers on Columbia’s roads. While most drivers recognize the risks of drunk driving or speeding, many fail to understand that drowsy driving creates similar levels of impairment. According to a comprehensive study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, an estimated 17.6% of all fatal crashes between 2017 and 2021 involved a drowsy driver, resulting in 29,834 deaths over those five years.

This means nearly one in five deadly crashes involves a driver too exhausted to operate their vehicle safely. If you were injured in a collision caused by a drowsy driver in Columbia, Stewart Law Offices can help. Our experienced Columbia car crash lawyers understand the devastating consequences of fatigued driving accidents and know how to prove driver drowsiness even when the at-fault driver denies being tired. 

With over 30 years of experience protecting accident victims’ rights and recovering millions of dollars for our clients, we have the resources and expertise to thoroughly investigate your accident and pursue maximum compensation from all responsible parties.

Why Drowsy Driving Is So Dangerous

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving causes approximately 91,000 police-reported crashes annually, leading to roughly 50,000 injuries and nearly 800 deaths each year. However, traffic safety experts widely acknowledge that these numbers significantly underreport the problem’s true scope. Drowsy drivers rarely admit they were falling asleep, and police officers investigating crashes often struggle to identify fatigue as a contributing factor.

Research shows that going without sleep for 20 hours produces impairment equivalent to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, the legal limit for drunk driving. Yet while law enforcement can easily test for alcohol impairment through breathalyzers, no simple test exists to measure drowsiness at accident scenes. This makes drowsy driving cases particularly challenging to prove without experienced legal representation.

The economic toll is staggering. NHTSA estimates that fatigue-related crashes cost society $109 billion annually, not including property damage. This massive financial burden reflects not only direct crash costs but also lost productivity, medical expenses, and the immeasurable human suffering these preventable accidents cause.

Who is Most Vulnerable to Drowsy Driving Crashes?

Certain groups face heightened risks of drowsy-driving accidents. Understanding these risk factors helps identify liability in Columbia car accident cases:

Shift Workers and Commercial Drivers

People working night shifts, rotating shifts, or extended hours face dramatically elevated crash risks. Truck drivers, delivery personnel, and other commercial operators who spend long hours on the road are particularly susceptible. Their work schedules often conflict with natural sleep patterns, creating dangerous levels of fatigue.

Young Drivers

Drivers aged 16-24 represent the demographic most likely to be involved in drowsy driving crashes. Their combination of inexperience, late-night social activities, demanding academic schedules, and part-time jobs creates perfect conditions for fatigue-related accidents.

Medical Conditions and Medications

Untreated sleep disorders like sleep apnea significantly increase crash risks. Additionally, many prescription and over-the-counter medications cause drowsiness as a side effect. Drivers taking sedating medications or those with diagnosed sleep conditions who fail to follow treatment recommendations may be held liable when their condition contributes to accidents.

Business Travelers

Professionals traveling across time zones or driving long distances for work face heightened risks from jet lag, irregular sleep schedules, and pressure to reach destinations despite exhaustion.

How Drowsy Driving Causes Severe Columbia Accidents

Drowsy driving crashes often involve dangerous impact patterns, including:

Because tired drivers may not brake or swerve, the force of impact is frequently much higher than in other types of accidents. These crashes commonly occur on highways, rural roads, and major corridors leading into Columbia.

Compensation Available Under South Carolina Law

In a drowsy driving collision case, victims may be eligible to recover various types of damages, provided they are determined to be 50% or less responsible for the accident under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence rule. If a victim’s fault is 51% or higher, they are barred from recovering any compensation; otherwise, the award is reduced in proportion to their percentage of fault.

Recoverable Damages Include:

  • Medical Expenses: Full coverage for all past and future medical needs, including emergency care, hospitalizations, surgeries, rehabilitation, prescription medications, and necessary medical equipment.
  • Lost Income: Compensation for wages missed during recovery, as well as lost earning capacity if permanent disabilities prevent a return to the victim’s previous job.
  • Property Damage: Costs to repair or replace a damaged vehicle, along with any personal belongings destroyed in the crash.
  • Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, permanent scarring or disfigurement, and a reduced quality of life.
  • Loss of Consortium: Damages recognizing the negative impact the injury has had on the victim’s relationships with their spouse and family members.

Furthermore, Punitive Damages may be sought if the drowsy driver’s actions were willful, reckless, or wanton. This typically applies if evidence shows the driver knowingly operated the vehicle while extremely fatigued or violated commercial driving regulations.

Warning Signs Every Driver Should Recognize

Drowsy driving gives clear warning signs that it’s time to pull over immediately:

  • Frequent yawning or difficulty keeping your eyes open
  • Inability to remember the last several miles driven
  • Missing exits or traffic signs, you should have noticed
  • Drifting from your lane or hitting rumble strips
  • Difficulty maintaining consistent speed
  • Heavy eyelids or head nodding
  • Daydreaming and wandering thoughts disconnected from driving

If you notice another driver displaying these signs, weaving between lanes, driving unusually slowly, making jerky corrections, or repeatedly drifting toward road edges, maintain a safe distance and consider reporting the dangerous driver to authorities.

Visit Our Drowsy Driving Accident Lawyers in Columbia

How Stewart Law Offices Protects Your Rights

Drowsy driving cases require immediate action to preserve critical evidence before it disappears. Our Columbia car accident lawyers move quickly to investigate your accident, obtain the at-fault driver’s employment records and work schedules, secure cell phone records and electronic data, and interview witnesses. At the same time, memories remain fresh, work with accident reconstruction experts, document the full extent of your injuries and future needs, and handle all communications with insurance companies so they cannot take advantage of you.

We work on a contingency fee basis; you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our firm has fought for Columbia accident victims for over 30 years because we believe everyone deserves experienced representation regardless of their financial situation.

Contact Our Columbia Drowsy Driving Accident Lawyer

A drowsy driver’s negligence shouldn’t ruin your life without accountability. Stewart Law Offices will fight aggressively to help you secure the maximum compensation you deserve as a victim of a drowsy driving accident. Be aware that time limits apply to injury claims, so it is vital to contact us promptly.

Call 803-743-4200 or contact us online today for a free, confidential case evaluation. If your injuries prevent you from visiting our office, we’ll meet you at your home or hospital at no charge.