The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that there are three main types of driver distraction. They are as follows:
- Manual distractions: Letting go of the wheel
- Visual distractions: Looking away from the road
- Cognitive distractions: Thinking about something else
Manual and physical distractions are well-known and often easier to avoid. Using a cellphone is both, for instance, because the driver has to hold the phone and look at the screen. They can avoid the issue entirely simply by refraining from texting and driving.
The issue with mental distractions
But this doesn’t mean the driver won’t get distracted. In fact, some studies claim that mental or cognitive distractions are the most common. They simply list daydreaming as a top reason why people cause car accidents. Their mind wanders, they stop thinking about driving and they suddenly find themselves involved in an accident – which they could have avoided if they had just been paying attention.
A big part of the problem here is that a distracted driver may not even know that they are distracted. They’re not even aware that their mind is wandering. They just get bored while driving and they start thinking about something else. In some cases, this is so serious that a driver will get to their destination and realize they don’t remember the drive. They count themselves lucky, but other drivers in the same situation may cause serious accidents.
Seeking compensation
Have you been injured by a distracted driver who caused an accident? You may have a right to financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more.