Serious Distractions Behind the Wheel
A distraction is anything which impairs a person’s ability to drive safely. There are various impairments that can lead to a car accident:
- Physical impairment. Some distractions take one or both hands from the steering wheel. As a result, a driver has less control over the steering wheel. If they need to take dramatic action, they might be unable to swerve out of the way.
- Visual impairment. Many distractions take a driver’s eyes off the road, so they never see a car up ahead or a pedestrian crossing. You can’t avoid what you can’t see—and the results are tragic.
- Cognitive impairment. Drivers must be focused mentally on the task of driving. Anything which distracts a person’s thoughts can impair decision-making.
Some of the worst distractions include:
- Cell phones—These cause all three types of impairments. A driver will hold the phone in one hand and take their eyes off the road to read a text message or email. Also, researchers have found that a person will think about a message for up to half a minute.
- Children—Small children can cause distractions in the back seat, with a parent looking in the rearview mirror to talk to the child or check on them.
- Food and drinks—A person reaching for a drink or holding a sandwich has removed one hand from the wheel. Someone who spills soup on them will quite possibly look down at their clothes and not what’s in front of them.
- Unrestrained pets—A dog can leap into the front seat, suddenly surprising the driver. Motorists should restrain their animals, if possible, otherwise they can lose concentration and crash.
- Distractions outside the vehicle—Billboards, car accidents, and pedestrians can all cause distractions, drawing a motorist’s eyes away from the road in front of them.
It only takes a fraction of a second for a driver to hit an innocent pedestrian or motorist at high speeds.
Contact Our Fairfield Distracted Driving Lawyers for a Case Analysis
Venardi Zurada believes in public safety. You can make the roads safer by calling our firm to discuss your accident with a Fairfield distracted driving lawyer. We have won million dollar settlements for badly injured clients, and we are eager to learn more about your accident and injuries in a free consultation. Call us now at (833) 893-6763 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
