At Munley Law, our Carbondale drowsy driving accident lawyers advocate for those who have suffered losses due to another driver’s negligence. Driving recklessly is not only dangerous but illegal. However, many drivers don’t consider the risks of driving while tired. Each year, thousands of people get into car accidents with drowsy drivers, leading to severe and sometimes fatal injuries.
Munley Law has won millions of dollars in settlements for our clients, including accident verdicts worth $26 million, $20 million, and $11 million. We are the only firm in Pennsylvania with three lawyers board-certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and our lawyers are also members of the American Association for Justice and the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Drowsy driving accidents are complex, as it can be challenging to prove fatigued driving. But with nearly seven decades of experience, our Carbondale car accident lawyers can lead you through the claims process to help you claim compensation for your losses.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 How Serious Are Drowsy Driving Car Accidents?
Drowsy driving occurs when a person gets behind the wheel of a vehicle while tired. Sometimes, this is due to needing more sleep or coming off shift work where the person may not have a standard sleeping schedule. For others, it may be due to a health problem like sleep apnea from prescription drug use or alcohol consumption.
In a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 25 drivers aged 18 years or older reported falling asleep while driving in the last 30 days, making this a problem that is all too common for drivers.
Additionally, data from PennDOT reports that there were 2,612 crashes involving a drowsy or asleep driver in Pennsylvania in 2024, which also resulted in 15 preventable deaths.
Nationwide, around 17.6% of all vehicle crashes between 2017 and 2021 involved drowsy drivers, according to a 2024 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report. This constitutes a rate of around 10 times higher than the reported number of accidents and deaths. The AAA also notes that drowsy driving is implicated in as many as 22% of all vehicle crashes that result in fatalities.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that these drowsy driving crashes, and their related injuries and deaths, cost the United States around $109 billion each year, not accounting for resulting property damage.
Just like driving drunk in Carbondale, PA, there are dangers to driving while drowsy. Some of the most common ways fatigued driving impairs a person include:
- Less likely to pay attention to the road
- Slower reaction time
- Decreased decision-making ability
The Sleep Foundation reports that driving drowsy is similar to drunk driving. After going 18 hours without sleep, the effects are similar to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. Further, if a driver goes 20 hours without sleep, it creates an impaired level similar to having a BAC of 0.08%, which is the legal limit. After 24 hours of no sleep, it would be comparable to having a BAC of 0.1%.
While drunk driving and fatigued driving are not the same, they hold similar levels of danger.
Who is Likely to Drive Drowsy in Carbondale, PA?
Many factors make a person more likely to drive drowsy and get involved in a car accident. This includes:
- Young drivers
- People on the roads between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the late afternoon
- People who do not get enough sleep
- Commercial truck drivers
- Shift workers, especially night shift or those working longer shifts of 12-plus hours
- People with untreated sleep disorders
- People on medication that may cause drowsiness
- People who have consumed alcohol
Just because a person may fall into one of these categories does not mean it’s what caused the car accident. However, there are signs that a driver is tired, including frequent blinking and yawning, poor recall, drifting between lanes, driving over rumble strips, tailgating, missing signs, or behaving aggressively.
Certain times of day also carry higher risk of drowsy driving accidents. In Pennsylvania, these crashes most commonly take place between 12 pm and 6 am, or late in the afternoons. Drivers experience dips in their circadian rhythms – the body’s internal clock that regulates wakefulness and sleep – during these times.
If you see a driver engaging in those actions, steer clear of them on the roadways and call for help.
What Are Common Drowsy Driving Accidents?
A drowsy driving car accident may result in several types of collisions. However, when determining if fatigued driving was the cause of a Carbondale car accident, the insurance company and your car accident lawyer will consider the type of collision that occurred. Some of the most commonly associated car accidents with drowsy driving are:
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Accidents that happen in the early morning hours or late evening
- Crashes that occurred during a lane change
- Crashes that occurred at a high speed
Drowsy driving can cause any collision, so be sure to meet with a car accident lawyer to discuss the facts of your case.
What Are Common Injuries Caused By Carbondale Drowsy Driving Accidents?
It is estimated that more than 300,000 drowsy driving accidents happen each year, with over 100,000 of them resulting in injury and more than 6,000 resulting in fatality. These accidents accounted for 2,612 accidents and 15 deaths in 2024 in Pennsylvania alone.
Some of the most commonly reported injuries in drowsy driving car accident claims include:
- Neck and Back Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Broken Bones
- Internal Bleeding
- Temporary or Permanent Disability
How to File a Drowsy Driving Car Accident Claim
To file a Carbondale, PA, drowsy driving car accident claim, you must first report the accident to your insurance company. Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, meaning you utilize your auto insurance and do not seek compensation from the other driver’s insurance company.
You will begin the claims process once your insurance provider has been notified. However, you need to check with your policy to see what time limitations exist, as waiting too long could minimize the compensation you receive.
Though never required, working with a car accident lawyer for your insurance claim can be beneficial. The adjusters will seek any reason to minimize your compensation, even if you were not wrong. Further, if you did share in some of the fault, they will try to reduce your compensation as much as possible. Working with a car accident lawyer in Carbondale will help you negotiate with the insurance companies so you are not taken advantage of.
Sometimes, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages if your injuries exceed your policy limits for compensation. Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations applies from the date of the accident. If the injured person was a minor at the time of the crash, the deadline is extended until their 20th birthday. Failure to file within the statute of limitations will bar you from compensation.
If you were involved in a severe car accident with a fatigued driver, call Munley Law to learn your options for financial recovery.
Comparative Negligence For Carbondale Motor Vehicle Accidents
Pennsylvania follows the modified comparative negligence rule. The rule states that you are not barred from financial recovery if you are less than 51% at fault. But if you are 51% at fault, you cannot pursue compensation for your damages.
Under the law, the amount of compensation you are entitled to is also adjusted by the percentage of fault you carry. So, if you are found 20% at fault for a drowsy driving accident, your compensation will be adjusted by 20%.
Car accident victims must be mindful of the comparative negligence rule, as any room the insurance company or at-fault party can find to minimize their obligation to you will be taken.
How A Carbondale Car Accident Lawyer Can Help With a Drowsy Driving Claim
No matter the type of car crash you were in, being in a motor vehicle accident can be overwhelming. Personal injury lawyers can help.
Here is how legal representation from Munley Law can help you in the drowsy driving accident claims process.
Gather Evidence
The first thing we can do is gather the evidence needed to build your claim. Valuable evidence for a drowsy driving case includes proof of related medical bills. Any medical treatment you received related to the accident will increase the value of your claim and any future medical treatment you may need.
Pay stubs can also show lost wages, which you should be reimbursed for. Any property damage documentation, such as a mechanic’s report for your vehicle, will be helpful.
Lastly, the police report can provide valuable evidence for your claim, including witnesses’ contact information and what the police suspect happened.
If you have any evidence from the accident, such as photographs or witness testimony, it can also be useful in establishing an insurance claim or preparing a lawsuit.
Calculate Damages
Much of the same information that will be used as evidence will also help calculate the value of your damages. Keep the following:
- Medical records
- Lost wages
- Property damage
In some cases, you may have sustained extensive mental health struggles following the wreck, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. You may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering in these cases.
Handle Negotiations
If you suffered catastrophic injuries, the last thing on your mind is being in contact with the insurance companies to get compensation. With legal representation from Munley Law, you don’t have to handle this alone. Our lawyers will take care of the other party, including the negotiations with the insurance company, so that you can focus on recovery.
Represent You in Court
Most car accidents are settled outside of court. Still, if your tired driving case does make it to trial, our Carbondale car accident attorneys will be by your side every step of the way to ensure the other driver is held accountable.
Carbondale Car Accident Victims Need Munley Law For Their Drowsy Driving Claims
If you or a loved one were injured in a Carbondale drowsy driving auto accident, Munley Law is prepared to handle your case. With decades of personal injury law experience, our car accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you need for your serious injury, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
We have the skill, dedication, and industry certifications needed to bring your accident to justice and help you win fair compensation for your injuries.
Our Achievements and Certifications
With nearly 70 years of experience, the attorneys at Munley Law are well-versed in handling accident cases related to drowsy driving. Our firm has won more than $1 billion in settlements for our clients to date, earning Robert Munley III, Caroline Munley, and Marion Munley membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
All of our lawyers have received awards from the National Trial Lawyers Association, with Marion Munley and Daniel Munley named to the Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers list, and J. Christopher Munley named to the Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers list. Eight of our attorneys have been named Super Lawyers, with Marion Munley listed in the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Pennsylvania, Top 100 Super Lawyers in Pennsylvania, and Top 50 Women Pennsylvania Super Lawyers directories.
Best Lawyers has named Marion Munley Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation, and Marion Munley and Daniel Munley are both board certified by the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. Marion Munley is currently the Vice President of the American Association for Justice and the first woman to head the Trucking Litigation Group, and we are the only Pennsylvania law firm to have three lawyers board certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Contact Munley Law’s Carbondale Drowsy Driving Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured in a drowsy driving accident involving a motor vehicle or a truck, our lawyers are ready to assist you.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation initial consultation and specialized support for your personal injury case.
Daniel W. Munley
Daniel W. Munley is an award-winning auto accident lawyer and advocate for auto accident victims. Widely recognized as a national leader when it comes to truck and rideshare accident cases, Daniel has been rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, alongside being named to Best Lawyers in America since 2013 and in 2020. Daniel has helped recover millions for injured auto accident victims, such as a $17.5 million jury verdict for a teen death caused by a car accident, and another $4.4 million settlement reached for car accident case. As well as this, Daniel has advocated for victims through speaking arrangements such as “Pennsylvania Practice Program: Auto and Trucking Cases.”
