Every day, drivers take to the roads with the intention of getting from Point A to Point B without problems. Most of the time, people are able to do so successfully. Unfortunately, there are always car accidents waiting to happen, and one of the biggest dangers that currently affects people is distracted driving. In 2020, more than 3,000 people were killed in the U.S. as a result of distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While those numbers are staggering, they only tell part of the story. For every fatal car accident caused by distracted driving, there are countless other accidents that result in serious injuries, property damage, and emotional trauma.
Distracted driving is any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the task of driving. Distractions can come in many forms, but they can broadly be divided into three categories: visual distractions, manual distractions, and cognitive distractions. All of these distractions can be dangerous, but in many cases, drivers will engage in multiple types of distractions at the same time, and this can greatly increase the chances that they will become involved in accidents. Car accident victims will need to take steps to make sure a negligent driver who caused an accident due to distracted driving will be held liable for their damages.
Visual Distractions
These distractions cause a driver to take their eyes away from the road. Obviously, this is extremely dangerous, because it means a person is not paying attention to what is happening around them. They may fail to notice important details, such as a vehicle that has slowed down suddenly, a pedestrian who has entered a crosswalk, or an obstacle in the road. This will give them less time to react, and they may be unable to slow down, swerve, or take other actions to avoid an accident. Common examples of visual distractions include reading text messages, looking at a navigation system, paying attention to a billboard near the road, or "rubbernecking" to get a view of the scene of an accident.
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