5 Dangerous Driving Distractions in Grand Rapids
The dangers of cell phone usage while driving are well known. Drivers who are looking down to type a message may fail to spot a hazard and cause an accident. However, distracted driving has been around a lot longer than cell phones. Even before people had phones in their cars at all, distracted driving crashes happened all the time.
If you were injured in a car accident and suspect that the at-fault driver was distracted, you will need to speak to an attorney who can help investigate and gather evidence. Proving driver distraction after a car accident can be tricky, especially if the driver was distracted by something other than a cell phone.
What Distractions Other Than Cell Phones Take Drivers’ Attention Off the Road?
While cell phones are probably the most common culprit for distracted driving accidents nowadays, there are other types of distractions that can cause a driver to take their eyes off the road long enough to cause a wreck. The driver who collided with you could have been paying attention to:
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Food - With how busy everyone is these days, it is not uncommon to see people eating in their cars while driving. Foods may drip and cause the driver to look down to wipe up a spot, or the driver may simply be so focused on enjoying his lunch that he fails to notice what is going on around him.
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Passengers - Younger drivers in particular are prone to being distracted by friends in the passenger seats. Parents with young children know how distracting it can be to have cranky children in the backseat, crying or kicking the seat. Designated drivers may have their hands full trying to manage intoxicated passengers inside the vehicle.
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Lost in thought - While most people “space out” from time to time, it can be very dangerous to do so while you are driving. Stressed-out drivers may sometimes become lost in thought to the point that they lose awareness of their surroundings and carelessly cause an accident.
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Items - Drivers should be keeping their hands on the wheel, not fumbling around for something in the glove box or their purses. While you are driving, it is not the time to clean out the car.
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Grooming - People who are in a rush may try to apply makeup or fix their hair while driving to work or school. This is a dangerous habit. Taking your eyes off the road even long enough to apply mascara can be incredibly risky.
If you believe that the driver who hit you was distracted, try to make note of what it looked like they were doing. Witnesses can be particularly important in this type of wreck.
Contact a Michigan Car Accident Attorney
If you have been injured by a distracted driver, John D. Tallman, PLC, Attorney at Law may be able to recover compensation on your behalf. Our Grand Rapids car accident lawyers are skilled at proving the cause of distracted driving crashes. Call us at 616-361-8850 for a free consultation.
Source:
https://safestart.com/news/top-10-causes-distracted-driving-and-what-they-all-have-common/
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