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Distractions are deadly when driving

On Behalf of | Dec 1, 2021 | Personal Injury |

Drivers must ensure that they aren’t letting anything in or around their vehicle distract them as they drive. Even short distractions can be very dangerous when a vehicle is in motion. There are approximately eight fatalities each day that are attributed to distracted drivers in this country.

Many drivers don’t realize that even glancing at a text message can lead to a crash. It takes only five seconds for a driver to go the length of a football field if it’s going 55 miles per hour. Coincidentally, that’s the time it takes to read or send a text message.

Why is distracted driving dangerous?

Many distractions require the driver to take their eyes off the road. Even looking at a billboard is classified as a manual distraction. When you aren’t looking at the road while you drive, you’re essentially driving blind. A driver’s eyes should always be on the road so they can ensure they spot hazards on the roadways. This can give them a chance to react in an appropriate manner.

Not all distractions are visual. Drivers can also face manual or cognitive distractions. A manual distraction means that they take their hands off the steering wheel. This is common when they’re eating or drinking. A cognitive distraction means the thoughts aren’t on driving, so a driver who’s had a rough or emotional day may encounter this.

Anyone who’s suffered an injury because of a distracted driver may opt to pursue a claim for compensation. This enables you to seek to recover the damages that you experience because of the injury. There are strict time limits in place to get these cases filed, so getting that done must be your priority once you receive medical care after the crash.