Each year we “spring forward” in March for Daylight Savings. Developed to increase the amount of daylight in the evening, the switch over to daylight savings time has been found to cause sleep loss and behavioral changes that can result in a 5 to 7 percent increase in accidents following the change.
We live in a society that is chronically sleep-deprived, and very bad things happen when chronic sleep deprivation is an issue. Spring Daylight Saving Time is a period when a lot of people lose a little extra time. We looked at different types of car accidents, including traffic accidents and workplace accidents, in Canada and found that there was a five-to-seven per cent increase in accident fatalities during the three days following spring Daylight Saving Time. After the fall Daylight Saving Time, however, there is not always a decrease in the number of accidents because people do not always use the extra hour to sleep.
This year, we need to make sure that we are aware of changes taking place to avoid being a part of the Daylight Savings accident statistics. You can keep yourself safe, first and foremost, by making sure you get enough sleep. We know this can be difficult, but it is your best defense against having an accident.
If you find yourself in an accident, you need to make sure you protect yourself. A good way to do this is by making sure you contact an experienced South Bend personal injury attorney. An attorney can help you make sure you receive compensation if you are an accident victim or help make sure you are treated fairly if you cause one.
Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak – Ph: (574) 444-0741.
