Distracted Driving Is More Than Cell Phones

 Posted on December 24, 2019 in Motor Vehicle Accidents

Thousands of people in the U.S. die each year and many more are injured due to traffic crashes that involve distracted driving. If you were injured in a vehicle accident, proving that the other driver was distracted should establish their liability in a personal injury lawsuit. People often associate distracted driving with cell phone use because talking or texting while driving will take your hands off the wheel and eyes off the road. States such as Illinois issue traffic tickets to people caught using a handheld digital device while driving. However, the problem of distracted driving goes beyond cell phones.

Cognitive Distractions

All acts of distracted driving share a common trait: they divert your attention away from driving. Talking or texting on your phone is a good example of this because you are concentrating on a conversation you are having with someone. You could be similarly distracted if you are driving while you are:

• Having a deep discussion with a passenger
• Talking to someone on a hands-free device
• Eating or drinking
• Applying makeup or otherwise grooming yourself
• Using a touch screen installed in your vehicle

Unlike using handheld digital devices, many of these activities are not traffic violations, even though they could still be dangerous. By reading the police report for your accident, you may see that the other driver admitted to being distracted right before the crash, which is an act of negligence.

Multitasking

Researchers believe that part of the cause of distracted driving is the habit of multitasking. Most people will perform multiple tasks at the same time throughout the day, believing that they are able to simultaneously concentrate on more than one task. However, their brains are actually switching between the two tasks, often performing one of the tasks mindlessly while thinking about the other. Doing this does not pose a risk of injury with some tasks, such as reading while eating. Multitasking while driving is more dangerous because:

• Threats can appear without warning
• Being distracted for a second can make a difference in whether you are able to avoid a crash
• Other conditions such as poor weather can compound the problem of your slow reaction time

Contact a Barrington, Illinois, Personal Injury Attorney

The injuries you suffer from a vehicle accident can be catastrophic and life-altering. You may need compensation not only for your medical expenses but also for the decrease in your quality of life. A Barrington personal injury lawyer at John M. Lucas & Associates, LLC, understands how your injuries have affected your life and why you need compensation. Schedule a consultation by calling 847-381-8700.

Source:

https://www.nsc.org/road-safety/safety-topics/distracted-driving