Distracted driving has certainly become one of the top reasons for car accidents in the United States. It can be more difficult to get accurate statistics about distracted driving when compared to something like drunk driving, but there has clearly been a trend toward drivers becoming distracted more often.
If we know that this causes car accidents and that over 40,000 people die in car accidents every year in the United States, then why is it that drivers continue to be distracted? Shouldn’t they focus on the road and leave the dangerous distractions behind?
Distractions are everywhere
The problem is that there are many different distractions. Having children or passengers in the car can be distracting. So can listening to music. Using a phone to stream music or follow a navigation app can be a source of distraction.
In some cases, such as when it comes to cellphone use, drivers are actually dealing with addictions. They may know that they should not text and drive, but they are so used to being on their phone constantly that it is hard to put it down. They decide to take the chance, hoping they will not be involved in a crash. The same is true for some drunk drivers.
Additionally, some distractions happen without drivers being aware of them. For instance, daydreaming is one of the top types of driving distractions, but most drivers do not even realize it is happening until a crash takes place.
Seeking compensation
Even if you focus on the road, you could be injured in an accident caused by another driver. Take the time to carefully look into your legal options for seeking compensation for medical bills and more.