Distracted driving is dangerous driving. Distractions are inherent in driving. When you’re on the road, there are distractions in practically every direction. However, when drivers distract themselves or make decisions that lead to distraction, they significantly increase the likelihood of an accident. With so many hazards already present on the road, inviting further distractions can have severe consequences.
The impact of distracted driving on Los Angeles roads can be devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a distracted driver, you need a trusted car accident lawyer who will fight for your rights. Here at the LA Injury Group, we stand with those injured in vehicular accidents, ensuring they receive the justice and compensation they deserve.
It’s worth it to contact us for a free case evaluation if you have been injured in an accident. If the other driver was distracted at the time of the accident, they very well may be liable for the accident. Subsequently, you will be eligible for compensation.
Distracted Driving on Los Angeles - There are many, many ways that you can drive distracted. It’s important to note that “driving distracted” is exactly that. You’re driving while distracted. You didn’t pull over to the side of the road in a gradual, measured manner and deal with the distraction.
By that same token, these are all distractions that the driver causes. They aren’t external. “Driving distracted” does not include someone running out into the street in front of you, anything like that. These are behaviors that cause you to take your focus away from the road. Many of these are actions that people take daily, trip after trip, and are fine. However, it just takes one time. One time when you’re too distracted to lead to an accident.
Nothing distracts like the phone. Yes, our phones allow us to be in contact with others essentially 24/7. However, these phones can also cause so many distractions. Laws in most states don’t let you text while driving. That makes all of the sense in the world.
To send any text requires taking your eyes off the road and at least one hand off of the wheel, minimum. If your phone’s further away, then you probably have to take further action. There is no text that is important enough to put your safety at risk. There just isn’t. Any text can wait.
And, if a text can’t wait, then it’s worth pulling over to the side of the road and then sending the text.
Just as you shouldn’t send a text while driving, you absolutely shouldn’t look at any kind of app. An app can be as distracting as a text. Possibly even more so, as it could lead to videos, music, sounds, and the like.
Many states do have laws against talking on the phone while you’re driving. Here in California, we thankfully do have that law. You cannot talk while on the phone here. Sure, you can talk over the bluetooth, hands-free, etc.
Before phones led to distracted driving, eating and drinking while driving. Having a small cup in a cup holder that you sip from at stoplights is unlikely to cause an issue. However, eating large meals, using both hands, utensils, then grabbing a drink, all while you should be navigating the road, can distract any driver.
Just as with the phone, it’s just not worth it. If you really are that hungry, if you absolutely are that thirsty, simply pull over to the side of the road, find a safe place, and eat. Then, when you’re done, go back onto the road.
Any distraction, no matter how minor or seemingly inconsequential, can reduce your awareness. To take your eyes off of the road, even for a fraction of a second, makes it possible for you to not fully perceive your surroundings. That can make any drive, even one you know by heart, treacherous.
Think of all that you could miss in less than a second. Road hazards. Traffic signs and signals. Other vehicles. Pedestrians. And so much more - that’s just what you could miss.
If you’re driving distracted, you cannot pay all of your attention to your vehicle. As such, distracted drivers often go in and out of lanes, aren’t in the flow of traffic, and so forth. It’s not that they’re bad drivers, no, it’s that they’re really unaware of what’s around them.
That’s an especially serious problem for distracted drivers. Why? Because when you're distracted, your reaction time will most likely be slower. So, if other vehicles, pedestrians, hazards, and so forth present themselves, you won’t be able to respond as well as you could have. If you’re able to respond at all.
When you’re behind the wheel, eliminate all of the distractions you can.
Even if you were partially liable for your accident (due to driving distracted or for other reasons), you could still be eligible for some compensation. This is one more reason why it makes sense to reach out to an experienced car accident attorney.
Here at the LA Injury Group, we help injury victims to receive the compensation they should. To see how we can help you, schedule a free case evaluation.