Driver Distraction

You can see it coming miles away. Trouble on the road in the form of a distracted driver who is too preoccupied with their cell phone, baby, or latte to pay attention to the road. Naturally, the only way for them to learn is the hard way and if you have suffered an accident due to a distracted driver, contact us immediately. The Umansky Law Firm can help you get the financial compensation you deserve.

When driving becomes secondary

One of the largest causes of automobile accidents in United States is called driver distraction. The concept is simple.  The driver is preoccupied by one or more things that are impairing his or her ability to safely operate a vehicle.  In today's society, there is a continuous stream of things that threaten a driver's ability to focus, including:

• Cell phones and texting
• Other portable electronics
• Food and drink
• Sleepy drivers
• Other distractions

Cell phones and texting

Cell phones have always been a notorious distraction when it comes to driving. Now that the popularity of text messaging has skyrocketed, things have only gotten worse.  Many drivers believe that they can use a cell phone without negatively impacting their ability to drive one bit, but the numbers say otherwise with cell phone use being a leading cause of automobile accidents. In fact, some research shows that even employing a hands-free device will not lower the risk of accident.

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Other portable electronics

We live in a world where everything is portable. Not only our phones, but our music players, calendars, and computers have all joined the ranks.  While these hand-held devices have certainly made our lives more convenient in some respects, they remain an increasing threat to our safety on the road. Even something like a GPS system that is designed to help you on the road, can become a distraction. Be sure to only use such devices when the vehicle you are driving is stopped.

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Food and drink

If you are eating or drinking while you are driving, you are a serious hazard to yourself and those around you. Holding any food item necessitates that you take your hands off the wheel. Sandwiches, fast food, and many of the other items that people typically consume in car are also dangerous because they fall apart while the car is in motion.  Make sure you plan enough time in your trip to stop for food, rather than endangering yourself, your passengers, or other drivers.

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Sleepy drivers

Make sure you are well-rested before you attempt to operate a vehicle. Recent research has found that tired drivers are four times as likely to be involved in a crash or a near-miss. These figures show that groggy motorists are actually much larger threat than previously believed.

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A car is not a home, office, or bathroom!!!

Among the countless other things that distract people while they drive are random activities that have no business taking place in a car. These include:

• Reading
• Applying makeup
• Shaving
• Writing
• Disciplining children

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Learn more

More information on other types of car accidents available here.