You never saw the pickup truck veering into your lane. All you know is that your minivan was hit and now you have to worry about how you are going to help your children recover from their injuries while you are trying to recover from your own injuries. As you get out of your vehicle, you notice that the other driver has a burger in one hand and a phone in the other. Now you wonder if that had anything to do with him coming over into your lane.
Distractions vary greatly
There are several distractions that can catch a driver’s attention as they drive. One of the most common, and most dangerous, is cellphone use. Texting, talking and using the Internet on a phone while driving can easily be a fatal decision. Drivers who must do one of these should pull over when it is safe and handle one’s business then instead of trying to use the phone while driving. Other distractions include eating, putting on makeup, shaving, talking to other passengers, changing the radio station, using navigation programs, using speech-to-text programs and thinking about other things.
Distracted drivers often drive without thinking
Distracted drivers might not remember what they did while they were driving. They might drift in and out of lanes, run stop signs and go through intersections without checking for oncoming traffic. This can be very dangerous when pedestrians are present because distracted drivers might not stop at crosswalks.
Driver distraction is a major danger
Your observation about what was in the driver’s hands could have a huge impact on a claim for compensation if you make one. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that drivers who aren’t paying attention to their driving duties cause around 80 percent of crashes. It is estimated that distracted driving causes up to 8,000 crashes daily. Some drivers, especially those who are experienced, think that they have the driving skills necessary to multitask while driving. This isn’t the case. Drivers make an average of 200 decisions for each mile they drive. This means that a driver traveling 60 miles per hour makes at least three decisions for each second the vehicle is on the road.
If you are involved in a car crash that was caused by a distracted driver, you might opt to seek compensation for the injuries you and your children suffered in the accident.