Distractions are everywhere, and they’re getting worse every day. They’re in our homes, at work, and even on the road. Unfortunately, when drivers give in to distractions, they can cause collisions, injuries, and even death.
Distracted driving takes many forms, and all of them can have serious consequences. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that distracted drivers kill eight people a day in the US. You can help by avoiding distractions when you drive. But what are the most common forms of distractions, and what kinds of accidents do they cause?
Three Main Types of Distractions
Distractions fall into three major categories. The categories differ in how the distraction works and the effects it has on drivers. These distraction categories are:
- Visual distractions take a driver’s eyes off the road. Any time this happens, it’s easy for a driver to make fatal mistakes. Smartphones and in-vehicle entertainment systems are common visual distractions that can draw a driver’s attention away from the important task at hand.
- Manual distractions cause drivers to take their hands off the wheel. Doing so slows driver reactions. Again, smartphones are a common manual distraction, but there are many others. Food, beverages, unruly passengers, and tasks such as grooming can distract drivers and inhibit their reaction times.
- Cognitive distractions take a driver’s focus and mind away from the task at hand. For example, drivers that daydream or engage in distracting conversations can lose focus on the road. The results can be devastating.
Accidents Caused by Distracted Drivers
Distracted drivers can cause all kinds of accidents, from low-speed fender benders to highspeed collisions on the highway. Regardless of their usual skill, a distracted driver is a poor driver, and they often cause injuries and even fatalities. The crashes caused by driver distraction include:
- Rear-end accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Side impacts
- Wrong-way accidents
- Rollovers
- Side-swipes
- Tailgating accidents
Injuries Caused by Distracted Drivers
When a distracted driver causes an accident, serious injuries are common. Following a distracted driving collision, drivers and passengers can suffer:
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Bleeding
- Scarring
- Internal injuries
- Soft tissue and joint injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial and dental damage
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Wrongful death
If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, contact an experienced car accident attorney for help. From answering your questions about your legal options to demanding fair compensation from the irresponsible driver that hurt you, an attorney could help you on the road to recovery.
How Banks Law Could Help
If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, Banks Law Office is ready to listen to you. Serving our clients with honesty and integrity, we put client service above all else. We care about you because we know how much damage a distracted driving accident can cause.
We’re ready to help by:
- Listening to you and answering your questions
- Advising you on your legal options
- Pursuing the compensation you deserve
- Investigating what happened and who is responsible
- Managing every step of your distracted driving case while you heal
- Coordinating with experts to understand your case
- Negotiating aggressively with insurance companies for the money you need
- Fighting for you and your rights in court
If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, contact Banks Law Office today. We tailor our services to your need, and we’re ready to help you move forward from the accident. Our compassionate professionals are here to listen and help you, so don’t wait to contact us.
For a free consultation about how a Washington distracted driving accident lawyer could help you, get in touch with us now.