We’ve written about the problem of obesity and the health conditions that stem from it (sleep apnea). Sleep apnea causes disruptions in sleep and can lead to drowsiness during the day. This is an obvious problem for people who drive commercial trucks for a living.
And, adding more fuel the fire, a recent CBS News report indicates that if you’re obese, you’re more likely to get into a fatal car accident. As Michelle Castillo reports, severely obese people (classified in this case as having a body mass index of 40 or higher) were a staggering 80 percent more likely to die in an auto accident, as compared to people at normal weight.
The researchers who looked at the data and produced the study did not seem to draw definite conclusions as to why the fatality rates were higher in obese people than people who were at “normal” rates. One speculation included the impact on the human body itself during a crash, which may have a worse effect on obese people in terms of how their bodies react to the seat belt.
On the other hand – and this did not seem to be part of the study – but if you’ve got sleep apnea because you’re obese, you’re more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel and get into a car accident that way.
Our law firm often handles accident cases stemming from drowsy driving. To learn more about our practice, please visit our San Antonio drowsy driving page.
Source: Obese drivers more likely to die in car accidents, study finds