One of the most common causes of auto accidents is caused by distracted driving. Distracted driving happens when a driver focuses on something other than driving.
There are a few common causes of distracted driving, here’s what you should know:
1. Phones
Phones are one of the biggest causes of distracted driving accidents. Phones are essentially made to draw people’s attention. One reason a driver might be distracted by their phones is if someone calls or texts. As a result, the driver may be acting as an additional distraction by replying to the text or talking to the caller.
2. Food and drinks
Many drivers eat and drink while driving. While some drivers may not see the issue with this, it can be greatly distracting in many ways. For example, eating and drinking often require drivers to take their hands off the wheel to unwrap and eat their meals, opening drivers up to auto accidents. Or, a driver may spill a drink while driving, making them frustrated and causing them to look away from the road.
3. Passengers
A large majority of drivers have other people in their cars. It’s often only natural for people to talk while in the company of others. But, a driver may give their passengers too much attention during conversation and get distracted from driving.
4. Smoking
While the past few years have seen a decrease in cigarette users, there are likely still 28.3 million Americans who still smoke. Many people drive while smoking. Not only does this require drivers to free one of their hands from the wheel but smoking can cause other issues. For example, if a cinder from a cigarette falls on a driver, they may suddenly act startled and cause an accident. The smoke from a lit cigarette may also temporarily blind a driver.
You could end up in an auto accident with someone who was distracted by their phone, passengers or other things. If you’re injured, you may need to understand your legal rights to get the compensation you need.