Drivers have to pay close attention to what they’re doing while they’re driving. Distractions can lead to deadly crashes. Approximately eight people are killed in this country each day because of drivers who are distracted.
Some people don’t realize how easy it is for a driver to become distracted and how just a few moments of distraction can be dangerous. It takes only five seconds for a vehicle to move the length of a regulation football field if it’s moving at 55 miles per hour. This is the time it takes to read or respond to the average text message. That’s a considerable distance to travel without watching the road.
Distracted driving isn’t only about watching the road
There are three types of distractions that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes. These include:
- Visual: when you’re not watching the road
- Cognitive: when you’re not thinking about driving
- Manual: when you’re not keeping your hands on the steering wheel
Some actions that a driver takes encompass more than one of these types of distraction. For example, if a person is replying to a text, they have to touch the phone, look at the screen and think about what they want to say. That’s all three types of distractions in one action.
Anyone who’s a victim of a distracted driver should ensure they have a medical evaluation for their injuries. This enables them to get a treatment plan and find out their long-term prognosis. This can help you seek compensation for the financial damages you’ve suffered due to the crash.
