Three people sustained serious injuries in a car accidentin Hayward after a Lexus SUV went over a curb and struck two pedestrians, before hitting a tree. According to a news report in the Oakland Tribune, the crash occurred the afternoon of September 7, 2010 in the 200 block of Drummond Drive. A 53-year-old woman and her 22-year-old son were hit. The woman suffered a broken leg while her son sustained scrapes and cuts. Both were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The driver of the Lexus was also taken to a medical center for treatment. She told officials that she had fallen asleep at the wheel. Drugs or alcohol were not factors, officials said.

I'm relieved to hear that neither one of the pedestrians sustained major injuries in this crash. This could have been a lot worse. I wish the mother and son the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accidents

There were four deaths and 74 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Hayward in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics. In the entire Alameda County, 33 people died and 649 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2008.

Sleepy Drivers are Dangerous

Based on the news report, it appears that the at-fault driver in this case fell asleep at the wheel right before striking the pedestrians. Accidents involving sleepy drivers have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries and even death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2007, driver fatigue was a factor in at least 18 percent of all fatal accidents and accounted for about 7 percent of all traffic accidents. Such incidents are constant reminders to all of us not to get behind the wheel while sleepy or tired.

Liability Issues

When accidents are caused by fatigued drivers, the at-fault driver may or may not face criminal charges. However, he or she could be held financially responsible for the injuries and damages caused to victims. Injured victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy and other related damages.

Victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer who will closely examine all angles of the incident and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation to injured victims and their families.

What steps do you take to make sure that you do not fall asleep at the wheel while driving?

The law firm that sponsors this blog has agreed to provide a free, confidential consultation to any of our readers who were injured in this or a similar accident. The offer applies to the family of the accident victims as well. Call 866-456-5235 for assistance.

At the time this article was posted, none of the parties mentioned in this article were represented by any of our sponsoring law firms. The source of our information is cited in the article. No independent investigation was conducted unless specifically mentioned in the article. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein; get a comprehensive consultation with a reputable law firm.