What is Distracted Driving in Oakland?
Many of us think about texting or talking on a phone while driving when asked to define distracted driving in California. Yet distracted driving can take many different forms, and it is essential to understand that a wide variety of careless or reckless behaviors can contribute to or directly cause a car accident. If you or a loved one was injured by a distracted driver in the Oakland area, the team at Venardi Zurada can help.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), distracted driving is defined as “driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving.”
The CDC identifies three specific kinds of distraction:
- Visual Distraction: The driver takes their eyes off the road.
- Manual Distraction: The driver takes their hand or hands off the wheel.
- Cognitive Distraction: A driver’s hands may be on the wheel and eyes on the road, yet something has taken the motorist’s mind away from the task of driving.
If you believe a distracted driver caused your injury, you should speak with an Oakland distracted driving attorney immediately to understand your legal options.
Getting the Facts About Oakland Distracted Driving
What do you need to know when it comes to distracted driving in the Oakland area? The CDC presents the following facts and figures about distracted driving:
- Distraction takes many forms and can include texting, talking on a phone, talking to passengers or other vehicle occupants, eating, grooming, changing the radio or GPS, and thinking about issues at work while driving;
- More than 2,800 people sustained fatal injuries in distracted driving crashes in 2018, and approximately 400,000 more people suffered injuries in collisions that involved distracted driving;
- Distracted driving can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists, and about 20 percent of all reported distracted driving deaths affect people who were on foot or a bicycle at the time of the collision;
- Younger drivers are at higher risk for a deadly distracted driving crash, and about 25 percent of all fatalities affect people between the ages of 20-29;
- Teenagers are most likely to be distracted behind the wheel, and although teens only account for about 10 percent of all fatal distracted driving collisions, it is important to remember that there are far fewer teen drivers on the road;
- Drivers between the ages of 15-19 are more likely to be distracted and to be involved in a distracted driving crash than drivers of any other age; and
- Nearly 40 percent of high schoolers who drove a car in the last month reported that they texted or emailed while driving at least once.
Get Advice from an Oakland Distracted Driving Lawyer About Your Case
If you believe another driver’s distraction caused a serious accident in which you or someone you love sustained severe or deadly injuries, it is essential to begin thinking about filing a claim with help from our Oakland distracted driving attorneys. Contact Venardi Zurada today to get started on your case. Call us at (833) 893-6763 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
