Understanding the 9 Common Causes of Distracted Driving
There are many types of distracted driving; you’re probably guilty of at least one or two of them.
Since distracted driving can have some serious consequences, this has been made illegal in the US. This means that if anyone’s been injured in a car accident by someone who was distracted, they might be entitled to some compensation. The best thing to do in that case is to contact a lawyer.
In the meantime, here are 9 of the most common reasons for distracted driving.
Learn more about distracted driving accidents
1. Smoking
Lots of people like to smoke in their cars. Many crashes that occur every year are smoking-related.
Sometimes, people might pull a cigarette out of the pack, find their lighter, or even hand-roll a cigarette while they’re driving. In other cases, someone might drop a cigarette in their lap. Since this can cause burns, it could cause people to become incredibly distracted while trying to find and put out their cigarettes.
2. Insects in the Car
Alongside heights and public speaking, fear of insects is one of the biggest fears in the US. When someone who fears insect is trapped in a car with one, it can be a recipe for disaster, especially since insects don’t seem to be able to understand the concept of glass.
When there’s something like a bee in your car (which can actually hurt you), it becomes even scarier.
3. Adjusting Something in the Vehicle
Often, drivers will adjust things like their seatbelt or their mirrors. It’s important that you have your seatbelt on and your mirrors positioned correctly, but when you do this while you’re driving, it can become quite distracting.
4. Adjusting Controls
This is probably one that most people are guilty of. A very common cause for distraction is adjusting the stereo channels or volume, or turning the air conditioning on or off. Even just fiddling with your AC for a short moment has a small chance of resulting in a collision.
5. Eating or Drinking
Pretty much every car contains a cup holder. Many Americans don’t have time to drink their morning coffee or eat their breakfast, so they try to make up for lost time by eating and drinking in the car.
This isn’t a good idea because it can result in you becoming incredibly distracted.
6. Other Occupants in the Car
A lot of issues surrounding distractions are not the fault of the driver, but rather, one of the other occupants in the car. The risk is multiplied if the occupants of the car are children or drunk.
In order to keep the risk of distraction to a minimum, passengers should refrain from moving around too much or talking to the driver excessively. Ideally, passengers should also watch the road so they don’t distract the driver during a crucial moment.
7. Using a Phone
One of the biggest causes of accidents on this list is people using their phones while driving. So many car accidents are caused every year by people who are checking social media or texting at the wheel.
It’s never a good idea to try and use your phone while driving. Even the hands-free options can still result in you being distracted. It’s best to just leave your phone alone until you reach your destination.
8. An Event or Object Outside of the Car
Did you know car accidents can sometimes cause other accidents? Often, people simply can’t help themselves from checking out the scene of a car crash. This can result in distracted driving and can lead to another accident, right beside the first one.
Other things outside of the car can also cause a distraction. Maybe you see a cute dog on the sidewalk and you take your eyes off the road for a few seconds; just that alone can be enough to cause a crash.
9. Being Lost in Thought
Surprisingly, this is also one of the leading causes of crashes due to distracted driving. When you’ve been driving for a while, your mind can start to wander. This can sometimes have deadly consequences.
Ideally, you should never drive when you’re tired. Always know your limits and stop for a while if you feel yourself becoming drowsy.
Consequences of Distracted Driving
Of course, the worst-case scenario of distracted driving is that you might cause an accident that results in someone being injured or killed. On top of that, you could also be arrested if you’re caught not paying your full attention to the road.
For example, a good amount of states prohibit the act of texting and driving. If a policeman sees you on your phone while you’re at the wheel in one these states, you’ll probably be pulled over and fined.
Even if you live in a state where texting and driving is allowed, this might lead to you committing some other infraction for which you’ll be pulled over for. If you’re pulled over for this kind of infraction, don’t be surprised if your insurance premiums go up.
If you’re constantly being pulled over for texting and driving, your insurance company is going to see you as a liability and they’ll charge you accordingly.
Injured by a Driver Exhibiting One of These Types of Distracted Driving?
If you’ve been injured by someone who demonstrated one of these types of distracted driving, you might be entitled to compensation. After your accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer with Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP as soon as possible.
In many cases, a lawyer might take on a personal injury claim on a “no win, no fee basis.” This means you’ll only have to pay for your lawyer’s services if they aren’t able to win the case. Your own income and savings don’t always need to be a factor in a personal injury case.
You might be entitled to compensation not just for your injury, but also for the implications of that injury. For example, your injury might prevent you from going to work. You could, therefore, be entitled to be compensated for your lost wages.
Need an excellent lawyer on your case? Then get in touch with us now.
