Distracted Driving Accidents – An Unnecessary Tragedy
McPhillips Fitzgerald Cullum LLP • May 30, 2020

May 30, 2020

Distracted Driving Accidents – An Unnecessary Tragedy

With less traffic on the roads, and more stress and worry in our lives, drivers may feel more inclined to check their phones and tune in to other distractions. Unfortunately, anything that takes your eyes or mind off the road can cause a deadly crash in an instant. Distracted driving is a choice. A selfish, avoidable, and sometimes irreversible choice. If you or someone you love was hurt by a distracted driver, you have the right to hold them liable for their negligence and demand that they pay for your injuries. The motor vehicle accident attorneys of McPhillips Fitzgerald & Cullum LLP, are here to help.

Distractions, Not Just Devices

Device use gets all the attention, when it comes to driver distraction with good reason – it is the most dangerous maybe the most ridiculous distraction that drivers choose to engage in. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that texting, taking selfies, or using social media while driving is a very bad idea. What many may not know is just how bad. Studies have found that texting while driving is as or more dangerous than driving drunk. And yet, it is not yet shunned by our society as drunk driving is and the laws against it are so far behind our reality.

With that said, the focus on device use can make people forget that all the old low and no-tech distractions can still lead to deadly accidents and are still far from OK. And, yes, you can still hold drivers liable for the injuries they cause when they choose to engage in those types of distractions, too. Common distractions leading to motor vehicle accidents include:

  • Texting and other device use, including GPS use and talking on the phone hands-free
  • Looking for items in a purse, bag or briefcase
  • Reaching for items in the floorboard or back seat
  • Attending to children
  • Interacting with passengers
  • Adjusting vehicle settings, such as climate control, mirrors and seat position
  • Adjusting the stereo
  • Personal grooming, including shaving, putting on makeup and fixing hair
  • Eating and drinking
  • Rubbernecking
  • Daydreaming

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