In the 80s and 90s, the message toward drivers was aimed at lowering the number of people killed by drunk drivers. In today’s world, drinking and driving is still something we educate drivers about. However, another danger that may not be as obvious lurks in the shadows: distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 3,100 people killed in distracted driving accidents in 2019. If you have been injured in an accident involving a distracted driver, understanding what caused the accident may help you obtain compensation.
Types of Driving Distractions
When you think of a driving distraction, your mind likely jumps to a cell phone or other electronic device. While these are some of the most common distractions for drivers, there are many different types of distractions that a variety of things can cause. For example, things both inside and outside of the vehicle can pose as distractions. There are three main types of distractions that a driver can face:
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Manual Distractions: A manual distraction causes you to take your hands off of the steering wheel. In many cases, manual distractions can intersect with other types of distractions and include actions such as reaching for a dropped object or adjusting your mirrors or controls.
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Cognitive Distractions: A cognitive distraction causes you to think about something other than driving. Cognitive distractions can be very common and include things such as talking to other passengers in the vehicle, singing along to a song on the radio, being very upset emotionally, daydreaming, etc.
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Visual Distractions: A visual distraction causes you to take your eyes off of the road. Visual distractions commonly arise from cell phone use, other passengers, things happening around you outside of the vehicle, or even looking at your GPS or navigation system.
Using a cell phone while driving is one of the most dangerous behaviors you could engage in while driving. Not only does it take your eyes off of the road, but you are also typically holding your cell phone and distracted by whatever is on the screen. Using a cell phone while driving creates a perfect storm of manual, cognitive, and visual distractions that can easily cause a traffic accident.
Discuss Your Case With a McHenry County Car Accident Injury Attorney
Any type of car accident can cause injuries to the parties involved, but accidents involving distracted drivers are often particularly severe. At Botto Gilbert Lancaster, PC, we will go through the facts of your case and help you pursue financial compensation for your damages. To schedule a free consultation with our skilled Crystal Lake, IL car accident injury lawyers, call our office today at 815-338-3838.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/distracted_driving/index.html#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%20in%202018,crashes%20involving%20a%20distracted%20driver.&text=About%201%20in%205%20of,or%20otherwise%20outside%20a%20vehicle.
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813060