Most Common Distractions that Cause Car Accidents
Distractions not only take a driver’s eyes off the road but also their attention. They don’t realize what’s happening around them, and when they do, it’s too late to react or prevent a car crash.
This is why the law regards a distracted driver as a negligent one. If you’ve suffered personal or property damage in a crash caused by distractions, you can file a civil claim to have the liable party compensate your losses.
The most efficient way is for a car accident attorney to investigate the case. The team at The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo can reconstruct the accident, determine the cause, and represent your interests to the insurance company.
5 Common Distractions Causing Car Accidents
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an average of nine people die every day from accidents involving distracted driving. Distractions can affect the manual, visual, and cognitive processes, which are all necessary behind the wheel.
If you were hurt by a distracted driver, your injuries may have been caused by one or more of the following distractions.
Using a Cell Phone
A cell phone takes so much of our attention away that it’s among the leading causes of distracted driving wrecks. If you noticed the other driver looking down or away, they may have been on their cell phone.
Many drivers see no harm in making a quick call or sending an “urgent” message when they’re behind the wheel. Texting is specifically risky because it requires taking a hand off the wheel and placing your focus on the device.
Eating While Driving
Activities like eating or drinking while driving may seem trivial, but are equally distracting.
Reaching out to take a bite of food or to the cup holder for a thirst quench takes your manual and cognitive attention away, and sometimes even your eyes off the road. When another driver fails to keep their eyes on the road, their distracted driving may have caused your injuries.
Other Car Occupants
When driving with other car occupants, it only seems natural to strike up a conversation, especially if it’s a long journey. This takes your cognitive and visual attention if you turn to look at them as you talk.
Other passenger-related causes of distraction include arguing with a car occupant and attending to children or pets. When neither passenger nor driver is focused on the road, it can lead to serious injuries.
GPS and Other Vehicle Controls
While a GPS device and other vehicle controls are designed to make driving easier, they can also be a distraction when driving. For instance, listening to audio GPS alone is enough to take your cognitive attention away. If you need to adjust the directions or look at the map, that distraction becomes more dangerous.
Adjusting other vehicle controls like music or air conditioning can also distract you, especially when you have to take your eyes off the road. When other drivers fail to stay focused, that can hurt you. That may give you grounds for a car accident lawsuit.
Speak with a Car Accident Lawyer about Distracted Driving
Some drivers still multitask when driving, despite knowing how dangerous distracted driving is. If you’ve been involved in an accident with such a driver, they should be held responsible for the resulting damages and negligent road behavior.
Get in touch with a lawyer from The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo to determine whether you have a claim and how much you should expect as compensation. Call us at 561-659-6366 or simply fill out the online contact form below and submit it for a free consultation.
