Distracted Driving: It's More than Just Phone Calls and Texting

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted driving is engaging in another activity that "takes your attention away from driving." It notes that there are three major types of distractions. Those follow:

• Visual when drivers take their eyes off of the road.

• Manual when drivers take one or both hands off of the steering wheel.

• Cognitive, when a driver's mind wanders from the task of driving safely.

Texting while driving is considered to be the most dangerous form of distracted driving. That's because a driver who is texting is engaged in all three of the major types of distractions. His or her eyes aren't constantly on the road, the person's hands aren't on the wheel, and the person's mind certainly isn't on driving.

Other Distractions

There are other types of distractions that drivers participate in too. They might even be perfectly legal, but a driver might still be held liable for an accident and injuries if he or she is engaged in any of the following activities when an accident occurs:

• Using an Infotainment Center: Many vehicle options are controlled with an infotainment center. Using an infotainment center requires a hand off of the steering wheel and eyes off of the road. A simple mistake when inputting information into an infotainment center can cause a driver's attention to be diverted for even longer.

• Consuming Food or Soft Drinks: Fast food and a soft drink are usually consumed without incident while driving. Danger on the road is drastically increased though when a pickle with mustard on it falls and stains your clothing, or you spill a soft drink on your lap. A driver's eyes are taken off of the road and at least one hand is taken off of the steering wheel when these things happen. What's ahead of a driver is far more important than what's on him or her.

• Personal Grooming: Spend enough time in rush hour traffic, and you'll see drivers fixing their hair, putting on makeup or shaving with an electric razor. All of these tasks require at least one hand off of the steering wheel and a driver looking in a mirror rather than the road ahead. Such behavior significantly increases the chances of a distracted driving accident occurring.

• Children: One or more children in a car's back seat is a common situation that can contribute to a distracted driving accident. When confronted with a fussy or misbehaving child in a back seat, a driver's eyes will likely be off of the road with their attention diverted. Pull off of the road or into a parking lot to deal with a fussy or misbehaving child.

If you or a member of your family were injured by the carelessness and negligence of a distracted driver, contact our offices, contact us at the Law Offices of David Fried to arrange for a consultation and case review. We want you to receive the compensation for your injuries and damages that you deserve.