Distracted drivers: they are easy to spot and are seen on Louisiana roads every single day. The sad truth about distracted drivers is that, for the most part, they don’t think that what they are doing is harmful — but it is. In fact, distracted driving is behind numerous motor vehicle accidents every year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every day in the United States alone, roughly 9 people lose their lives in distracted driving-related auto collisions and over 1,000 people suffer injuries in such events. Think about that. That means that over 3,000 people die due to the actions of distracted drivers every year and hundreds of thousands get hurt. This is a significant problem that certainly deserves attention.
When it comes to distracted driving, there are three types of distractions that affect most drivers: visual, manual and cognitive. Visual distractions are anything that will take a person’s eyes away from the road. It could be looking at scenery, looking at passengers in the car, reading a text or any number of other activities. Manual distractions are those that take a person’s hands off the steering wheel. Examples include adjusting the radio, texting, eating and grooming.
The final distraction that will be addressed is cognitive. Cognitive distractions are anything that takes one’s mind off of the main task at hand, which is operating the vehicle. Even the most cautious driver may struggle to escape this type of distraction, as everyone has things going on in their lives that may take up their thoughts.
Louisiana residents who have been injured or lost loved ones in motor vehicle accidents caused by distracted drivers may be entitled to seek compensation for their losses by filing civil claims in court. In order for one’s case to be successfully litigated, it will be necessary to prove that negligence contributed to the event. This is not necessary an easy feat, but with the assistance of legal counsel — and under the right circumstances — it may be accomplished.
Source: cdc.gov, “Distracted Driving“, Accessed on Nov. 21, 2017