Young, Drowsy Driver Causes Rollover Crash on I-94
Michigan State Police recently reported a 9 a.m., weekend rollover crash on Interstate 94, east of Telegraph Road, near Pelham Road. The accident report says the car was carrying four passengers, ages 19 to 33-years-old. The driver, a 20-year-old Melvindale resident, was believed to have been asleep at the wheel and lost control, forcing the car to roll several times and overturn into the median when a backseat passenger was ejected into the other lane. Thankfully, he was not struck by any motorists and did not sustain further injuries. A second male passenger is believed to have been ejected out the back of the car window. The young driver was only partially ejected but found pinned under the car when MSP and EMS arrived. The accident report states Michigan LifeFlight helicopter transported one passenger to an area hospital while two were taken by EMS to Beaumont Dearborn Hospital.
The fourth passenger, who was riding in the front was a 19-year-old from Melvindale, and reportedly the only occupant to have a seatbelt on. He sustained only minor injuries. Luckily no other vehicles were involved in this crash. A AAA study found young drivers between 16 and 24 were almost twice as likely to be involved in a drowsy driving crash as a driver over 40 years old.
Michigan is Lousy for Drowsy Driving
Nationally, drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 crashes each year. In Michigan, drowsy driving crashes increased from 3,281 in 2016 to 3,425 in 2017. And within those two years, 1,352 Michiganders suffered serious and minor injuries as a result of drowsy driving crashes. Other statistics provided by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety include these drowsy driving trends:
- Driving drowsy or “fatigued or asleep” driving can be just as dangerous as driving drunk.
- Generally, men are more likely to be involved in drowsy driving crashes than women, with 2,403 men versus 1,025 women identifying as fatigued or asleep while driving last year.
- More than half of drivers who said they fell asleep at the wheel said it happened on an interstate or highway.
- Over half of these crashes involved the tired driver drifting into another lane or off the road completely.
To avoid becoming a drowsy driver, get solid sleep before operating a vehicle and schedule breaks about every two hours during long trips or share driving responsibilities with other passengers. Certain medications, and drugs and alcohol can cause drowsiness so don’t use them before driving. If you’re behind the wheel and feel the need to rest, find a safe place to pull over and take a break.
Contact Us Now About Your Michigan Drowsy Driving Accident Injury
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash and believe it was caused by a drowsy driver, the motor vehicle and motorcycle accident injury attorneys at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm are ready to support your claim. Not only can a personal injury lawsuit help ease financial burdens, it can help create awareness to prevent driver errors that pose serious risks to other road users.
Please call and speak to our car accident attorneys at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733) or fill out the Free Case Evaluation Form.