“How Can I Prove a St. Louis Auto Accident Was Caused by Drowsy Driving?”

Let’s discuss a few ways drowsy driving can be identified as a contributing factor in a St. Louis, Missouri car accident.

Drowsy driving is a common cause of car and truck accidents, resulting in more than 71,000 accidents and 1,550 fatalities per year.  However, proving that an accident was caused by drowsy driving can be a bit more complex than you may think. Let’s discuss a few ways drowsy driving can be identified as a contributing factor in a Missouri car accident. 

There Is No Way To Definitively “Prove” Drowsy Driving  

Unfortunately, no test exists to establish that a driver was drowsy during an accident, unlike breathalyzers and drug tests for alcohol and drugs. Research is ongoing on a blood test that may help prove drowsy driving, but this is not yet in use.

Because of this, drowsy driving is usually proven by the circumstances of the crash. Let’s look at these factors now and discuss how they may prove that a driver was drowsy.

Common Factors That May Prove Drowsy Driving Accidents In St. Louis 

Many circumstantial factors can combine to prove that a person was drowsy or asleep at the wheel during a St. Louis auto accident. Here are just a few of them. 

1. Driving behavior leading up to the accident – For example, if you have dash camera footage of the driver swerving or acting erratically before the accident, but they did not have drugs or alcohol in their system, this could help prove drowsy driving. 
2. Time of day – As you’d expect, drowsy driving is more common in the very late night and early morning.
3. The driver’s reaction before the accident – If a driver falls asleep, they won’t react to an on-road situation at all. For example, skid marks are rarely present when a drowsy driver hits another car or obstacle since they won’t brake before the impact. 
4. Admission of drowsy or sleepy driving – If the other driver admits to you or tells someone else they were tired when driving, this can be used against them. 
5. Driving alone – Most drowsy driving incidents happen to people driving alone for obvious reasons. There’s nobody else to keep them awake or notice that they are sleepy. This is why 82% of drowsy driving accidents happen to solitary drivers.

Proving that another driver was asleep at the wheel or drowsy may be difficult, but it’s not impossible. And, even if you can’t prove drowsy driving, the other driver can still be found to be at fault if they caused the crash. 

Have You Been Involved in a Drowsy Driving Car Crash in St. Louis?

At The Hoffmann Law Firm, our experienced team of St. Louis car accident attorneys has a proven track record of helping car injury victims in St. Louis for 25 years. We can help you pursue the compensation you deserve after a drowsy driving accident. Contact us to schedule a free, no-commitment case review with our team.