Distracted driving is a major problem across the United States and in Atlanta, where drivers are often paying more
attention to their smartphones or radios than they are to the road. If you or a loved one has been injured in a distracted driving accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help ensure you get the best possible outcome.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any activity that takes your attention away from the task of driving. Common distractions include texting or using a smartphone, eating or drinking, talking to passengers in the vehicle, or adjusting the radio or other controls.
Types of Injuries from Distracted Driving Accidents
Distracted driving accidents can range from minor fender-benders with no injuries to serious collisions that result in severe injury or death. Some common types of distracted driving accidents include: head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, sideswiped, and rollover accidents.
The 4 Categories of Distracted Driving
Visual Distractions
Let’s begin by discussing visual distractions.
Visual distractions encompass anything that draws your eyes away from the road while driving. This can include billboards, street signs, attractive cars, pedestrians, passengers, or even your GPS and cellphone.
Given that road conditions can change rapidly, sometimes within mere moments, maintaining your focus on the road is crucial for your safety as well as the safety of others.
Physical Distractions
Physical distractions, often referred to as manual distractions, occur when you remove one or both hands from the steering wheel while driving. Examples of physical distractions include eating and drinking, texting, searching for items that have fallen under the driver’s seat, or reaching for objects in the passenger or rear seats.
Engaging in physical distractions inherently diminishes your control over the vehicle. To operate your vehicle safely and keep both yourself and others on the road secure, it’s essential to keep both hands on the steering wheel.
Auditory Distractions
Auditory distractions involve any sounds that hinder our ability to hear and divert our attention from driving. These distractions can range from listening to loud music, engaging in phone conversations, talking with passengers, noisy children, to text notification alerts or ringtones.
Have you ever noticed that when you’re lost while driving, you tend to lower the volume of your car radio? The saying “hearing yourself think” has some validity. Many car manufacturers now incorporate features like rearview cameras, and if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the radio volume automatically decreases to help you concentrate.
To minimize auditory distractions, maintain a moderate volume for your music, explain to your children the importance of quiet while you’re driving, and avoid using your phone while behind the wheel.
Cognitive Distractions
Cognitive distractions occur when a driver shifts their attention to mentally demanding tasks. Engaging in a hands-free cell phone conversation and using voice-activated electronic systems are two examples that predominantly result in cognitive distraction. Additionally, emotions can impact our driving ability. Emotions like anger, sadness, or feeling detached can impede your ability to drive attentively and with a clear mind. When your mind is preoccupied with other thoughts or mental tasks, your reaction time can significantly slow down.
Lasting Effects of Distracted Driving Accidents
The lasting effects of distracted driving accidents vary greatly depending on the severity of the accident. Victims may suffer from physical impairments such as paralysis or traumatic brain injury (TBI); cognitive impairments such as memory loss; psychological impairments such as depression; and sensory impairments such as hearing loss.
At Humphrey and Ballard we understand how devastating these types of injuries can be for victims and their families. We will fight aggressively for your rights every step of the way so that you get justice after a distraction-related accident. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you get the compensation you deserve after a distracted driving accident.
