Distracted driving is a serious problem in the United States. It is essential that you, as a driver, understand exactly what distracted driving is and how to avoid it yourself. You should also know the signs of another driver being distracted, so you can avoid a collision with them.
Knowing how to avoid distractions is the key to preventing serious crashes. Here’s what you should know.
Understanding distracted driving
As a driver, it is necessary for you to understand what distracted driving is. Distracted driving is driving when you are thinking about or doing something other than paying attention to the road.
Some common kinds of distractions include:
- Eating behind the wheel
- Arguing with passengers
- Talking on a cellphone
- Texting
- Answering emails
- Entering information into your GPS
All of these and other kinds of distractions put you at risk of a serious auto collision.
Proving that distractions caused the crash
After a crash, it is helpful if you can explain that the other party was distracted and negligent. To do this, you need to know the signs of distracted driving.
Some common signs include:
- Weaving in and out of the lane
- Drifting
- Suddenly starting or stopping
- Hitting the rumble strip
- Seeing the driver with a cell phone
- Seeing the driver chatting with no one in the vehicle
- Seeing the driver eating behind the wheel
These are all signs of distracted driving that could help you prove your case and seek the most compensation possible.
As a victim of a crash caused by a distracted driver, you need to know that you have the right to seek fair compensation for what you’ve been through. It is reasonable to ask a distracted driver to compensate you for your medical care, lost wages and other damages.
It is not wholly your responsibility to prove that the other party was distracted at the time of the crash. The police and insurance companies will look into the situation to determine fault, but you can help things along if you express that you saw something before the crash, like the driver talking on a cellphone. It’s worth taking some time to think about what you saw before and during the crash, so you can decide if you think distractions played a role in the collision.
