The latest technological advances make it easier to stay in touch with friends and family, watch your favorite shows, shop at your favorite online retailer and more with a device that fits in your hand. If you are like most people, you don’t own a desktop computer or have a landline in your home anymore. You may have a laptop computer, but you probably rely on your smartphone more than you would like to admit.
The downside of smartphones is that many people use them while they drive. Texting and driving has increased to an alarming level, and advocacy groups and governmental agencies are desperate to get the word out that people need to stop doing it. However, that effort may have overshadowed the fact that distracted driving isn’t new and comes in many forms, not just texting and driving.
Numerous distractions can kill
People have been dealing with distractions while driving since the making of the first automobiles. Anything that takes your attention off the road qualifies as a distraction, and listed below are some that people tend to forget about with all of the attention smartphones get these days:
- Talking or interacting with passengers
- Eating or drinking
- Smoking
- Reading, including looking at maps
- Grooming, such as shaving or putting on makeup
- Adjusting the radio, CD player or MP3 player
- Adjusting the environmental controls
- Watching a video
- Using a navigation system
- Reaching or looking for something in another part of the vehicle
- Daydreaming
Most parents know that children can be a big distraction while driving. You may find it difficult to find a parent who hasn’t had to look away from the road in order to deal with a child for one reason or another.
When a distraction causes you harm
You may not think that the distraction that led to the accident that caused you injuries is important. After all, the fact that the other driver was dealing with a distraction at all is the primary reason for your injuries. However, knowing what the driver was doing at the time of the crash can help you prove negligence in a personal injury claim.
For this reason, an investigation into the crash should involve determining what the other driver was doing at the time of the accident. Sometimes, that information is not easy to come by, and it would most likely benefit you greatly to have the help of an experienced attorney as you attempt to navigate the civil justice system in order to pursue the compensation you deserve.