Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in Northern Alabama and elsewhere throughout the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,275 people were killed in accidents involving distracted drivers in a single recent year.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle crash caused by a distracted driver, understanding the three types of distracted driving can play a vital role in your auto insurance claim against the distracted driver’s liability coverage policy. You may need to present various kinds of evidence to prove the driver was distracted in different ways.
Visual Distractions
Visual driving distractions are anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road. Two examples of common visual distractions are cell phones and GPS navigation systems. Personal grooming (shaving or applying makeup, for example), looking at scenery, and eating can also take a driver’s eyes off the road.
When a motorist takes their eyes off the road for five seconds while driving at 55 mph, their vehicle travels the length of a football field. A lot can happen in that distance. Other vehicles may merge into the distracted driver’s lane, a light may turn red, or a pedestrian may enter the roadway, for example.
Manual Distractions
Manual distractions are anything that takes a driver’s hands off the steering wheel. Many visual distractions are also manual distractions. For example, using cell phones and GPS navigation systems, eating food, and doing your hair are all manual distractions because they involve drivers using their hands. Other examples of manual distractions include reaching for an object in the car and adjusting the radio or air conditioning.
When drivers take their hands off the wheel, they reduce their ability to react to hazards on the road, increasing their chances of getting in an accident. In 2023, Alabama’s hands-free law went into effect. The law makes it illegal for motorists to hold cell phones and other electronic devices while driving in the state.
Cognitive Distractions
Cognitive distractions can be harder to prove than visual or manual distractions, but they are just as dangerous. Anything that diverts attention or takes a driver’s mind off the act of safe driving is a cognitive distraction. For example, daydreaming or talking to passengers in the back seat can be cognitive distractions.
How Distractions Lead to Car Accidents
Distractions lead to car accidents by impeding a driver’s ability to react to hazards, whether by taking their eyes off the road, their hands off the steering wheel, their minds off the act of safe driving, or a combination of the three categories of distractions. Sending a text message is a good example of a dangerous distraction that involves all three types of distracted driving. Teen drivers are particularly prone to cell phone use, and their lack of experience increases the risks associated with driver distraction.
The law firm of Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., is committed to raising awareness about distracted driving. Our efforts include sponsoring an annual scholarship competition focused on educating the community about the hazards of distracted driving.
Despite how common distracted driving accidents are, proving distracted driving can be tricky. Some examples of potential distracted driving evidence you may be able to use include:
- Traffic, security, and dashboard camera videos
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert testimony from crash reconstruction specialists
- Phone records showing inbound or outbound calls and texts
Get Help from Our Northern Alabama Car Crash Lawyers Now
If a distracted driver caused a motor vehicle crash that injured you in Northern Alabama, contact Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., for a free consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer. We’ll review your case and explain your next steps for seeking compensation for your injuries.
