Drivers who are distracted are risky for everyone around them. They aren’t focused on the roadway and can’t make the decisions they need to get to their destination safely. It’s important for all drivers to ensure they understand how important it is to avoid distractions.
It’s easy to focus on cellphones as a distraction, but these aren’t the only thing that can claim a driver’s attention. Eating, drinking, reaching for something, and similar actions are all common distractions among drivers. Even thinking about something going on at home or work can lead to distractions that impair your driving abilities.
There are three forms of distractions to consider – manual, visual, and cognitive. Manual distractions require you to take your hands off the steering wheel. Visual ones make you take your eyes off the road. Cognitive ones force your mind to focus on things other than driving.
No driver should fall into thinking that only long distractions are dangerous. In a short five seconds, which is the time it takes to read an average text message, a vehicle can move the length of a football field if the driver is traveling at 55 miles per hour. That’s ample distance to crash into another vehicle or something else.
Anyone who is struck by a driver who may have been distracted may opt to pursue legal action. This can help them to recover the damages they suffered because of their crash. It may include payment for their medical care but can also extend to other damages, such as the money they were unable to earn if they weren’t able to return to work right away after the wreck. If you were injured in a wreck with a distracted driver, find out more about your legal options.