Distracted driving is far more common than most people realize, and its consequences can be devastating. According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, people who text while driving are 23 times more likely to get into a collision than those who do not.
Even something as simple as adjusting your GPS while driving can divert your attention from the road long enough to cause a collision. Unfortunately, even if you never drive while distracted, you are likely to encounter a distracted driver at some point.
If you were injured in a wreck with a distracted motorist, contact Ballard Law, PLLC. Attorney William E. Ballard will investigate your case and provide comprehensive legal guidance.
Mr. Ballard will help you fight for the maximum settlement, and if your case goes to trial, he has the litigation experience and resources to represent your interests in court. Call 769-572-5111 to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Jackson.
Read on to learn about the three kinds of driving distractions:
- Manual Distractions
Manual driving distractions are those that take your hands off the wheel. Some examples of manual distractions are:
- Eating and drinking;
- Applying makeup;
- Adjusting the GPS route; and
- Visual Distractions
A visual driving distraction is anything that takes your eyes off the road ahead. Examples of visual distractions include turning around to check on your children and looking down to adjust your GPS.
Reading or writing text messages also takes your eyes off the road, and doing so while the vehicle is in motion is incredibly dangerous. According to the International Business Times, people who text and drive take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds per message. If they are traveling at 55 mph, that means they will drive the length of an entire football field without looking.
- Cognitive Distractions
Anything that takes your mind off the task of driving is a cognitive distraction. This includes conversing with passengers or talking on a hands-free device, listening to a podcast or audiobook, and stressing over personal, family, or financial issues.
Most driving distractions fall into multiple categories, and some fall into all three. For example, applying makeup while driving is both a manual and a visual distraction, and texting is a manual, visual, and cognitive distraction. The more categories a particular distraction falls under, the more dangerous it is.
Unlike drunk driving, there is no definitive test to reveal that someone was distracted while behind the wheel. Fortunately, there may be other ways to prove fault following a collision with a distracted driver.
If you were hurt in a car accident that someone else caused, contact Ballard Law, PLLC to discuss your case. Call 769-572-5111 to schedule a free case evaluation with a car wreck attorney in Jackson. You can learn more about car accident claims in Mississippi by visiting usattorneys.com/car-accident/mississippi.
