Distracted Driving Accidents: What do I Need to Know?

We all love our mobile technology. From using voice-activated features to send and receive texts, to choosing the next song on the playlist, drivers are able to do more while driving than ever before. Unfortunately, doing more has led to an increase in distracted driving accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 8 people are killed and 1,161 are injured each day in crashes involving a distracted driver.

There are three main types of distraction:
• Visual: taking your eyes off the road
• Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving

Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that's enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. It’s not just texting and emailing that cause distraction. Vehicle navigation systems, while helpful, can also be the source of distracted driving accidents.

If you are involved in a distracted driving accident, document as much as possible. Take photos of the scene, the vehicles, and any injuries you sustain. Of course, collect the other driver’s insurance information, driver’s license information, and license plate number. Contact the police department to ensure that an official record is made of the accident.

Take mental notes of anything the other driver says, such as “I just looked away for a minute to check my phone.” If there are witnesses to the accident, obtain their contact information. You may not need it, but it’s much easier to get that information at the scene than later, if it becomes necessary.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact us today. You may be able to receive financial compensation for medical costs, lost wages, property loss, and pain and suffering due to another party’s negligence.