Dozing Driver Dodges Harsh Penalties

Driving while deprived of sleep is dangerous. It’s also quite common. Estimates from the National Sleep Foundation’s 2023 Drowsy Driving Survey found that roughly 20 percent of all motor vehicle accidents were related to drowsy driving. Yet people underestimate their tiredness levels while driving, making it even harder to recognize when they should pull over. 

In this case, our client was driving home from work to get some sleep. He was exhausted and thought about pulling over. Instead, he continued driving and unfortunately dosed off. His vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a school bus. Luckily, no children were on board during the crash.

Our client was guilt-stricken. He sought to make amends and prevent future incidents.  He completed community service hours with the school, took a defensive driving course, and saw a doctor about his excessive sleepiness. Turns out, our client was suffering from sleep apnea. 

Our client’s commitment to making things right on his own paid off in court. He received a stunning plea deal: a $100 fine and 2 points on his driver’s license. He also no longer drives tired.