Before discussing the different types of distracted driving, it is important to understand what is meant by the term. NHTSA defines distracted driving as “any activity that diverts attention from driving.” Almost any activity can be considered a distraction if it causes the driver to turn their attention and focus away from the roadway. In most cases, distracted driving takes the form of mental, physical, or visual distractions.
Whether you have a long commute to work or a short trip to the store, anything can serve to distract you.
Often, people who drive are focused on other thoughts, known as cognitive distractions. Unfortunately, in today’s fast-paced world, people do not have the luxury of focusing on one thing at a time. When you drive, you should be focused on the roadway, but this is not always the case. You may be thinking about work, your children, or an argument you just had which causes you to zone out and not focus on the roadway. Something as simple as not paying attention can cause an accident. While mental distractions account for a portion of all injuries, not all distractions are based on our thoughts. Some may be caused by something we see.
Visual distractions are everywhere, with the potential to divert your attention from the roadway. For example, billboards require you to look, read, and drive simultaneously. In doing so, you may not be paying attention to the roadway which may lead to a crash. “Rubbernecking” is yet another visual distraction that commonly results in rear-end collisions. In these cases, drivers may be looking at an accident across the road and are not paying attention to the car in front of them.
If you were injured due to a car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The person that hit you may be responsible for your losses if it can be shown that the accident was the result of their negligence, carelessness, or reckless behavior. Having an attorney who can gather proof in your case is extremely important. In the example of a cell phone, our attorneys would subpoena cell phone records, accident reports, and tickets issued by the responding police officers to establish that the person was using their phone at the time of the accident. Eye-witness reports of erratic driving, or visual accounts of seeing the person on the phone, may also be used when seeking recovery.
There are countless ways of proving fault and our experienced attorneys will uncover all available proofs based on the circumstances in your accident. If you or a loved or have been injured as a direct result of distraction-related negligence, please contact us online, or through either our Morristown office or our Little Falls office at (973) 233-4396.