There are a variety of different causes of driver distraction and all of them can be dangerous. Because of the seriousness of distracted driving, victims of distracted drivers need to be familiar with the personal injury legal protections that may be of help with their damages.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 80% of car accidents and 65% of near accidents involve driver distraction three seconds before they occur. The NHTSA also reports that distracted driving is the leading cause of car accidents.
The causes of distracted driving
There are a variety of different causes of distracted driving including reaching for an object in the vehicle while driving; talking and engaging with passengers while driving; reading and or writing while driving; eating, drinking or smoking while driving; grooming while driving; the use of music controls, the radio and navigation devices while driving; and the use of electronic devices such as cell phones while driving. In addition, children and pets can also be causes of distraction.
Drivers are encouraged to position objects such as phones easily within reach and to minimize other activities while driving, including engaging in stressful activities while driving. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that texting while driving is banned in Kentucky and such behaviors may be considered negligence when a distracted driving causes and accident while texting and driving.
While there are several type of distracted driving, including manual, visual and cognitive, any type of distracted driving can cause car accidents that can seriously injure victims. A personal injury claim for damages can help injured victims with their injuries and damages by holding a negligent distracted driver responsible for the harm they caused the victim.