Sarasota Distracted Driving Accident Attorney
When out on the roads, it seems that more and more drivers are changing lanes without using their turn signals, drifting into the shoulder of the road before making a sudden correction, running stop signs, and taking a long time before starting up again when stopped at a red light that turns green. It is not just in your imagination—drivers are more distracted than ever, and even though there have been many advancements in car safety and crash prevention technologies, traffic fatalities are holding even at about 40,000 deaths per year because drivers are choosing to allow distraction to control them when they get behind the wheel. If you were injured in a traffic collision of any type, that driver’s distraction is probably at least partially to blame. Hold them accountable for your damages by working with an experienced Sarasota distracted driving accident attorney at Hale Law
The Three Types of Distraction
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are three types of distracted driving:
- Visual—Taking one’s eyes off the road;
- Manual—Taking one’s hands off the steering wheel; and
- Cognitive—Taking one’s mind off the road while driving.
Visual distraction could be looking in the backseat for a wallet or piece of paper. Manual distraction might be adjusting a side view mirror while driving. Cognitive distraction could be as simple as day dreaming, or having a loud child in the back seat. Of course, many forms of distraction check multiple boxes. Texting, for example, is a form of all three.
Examples of Distracted Driving
- Texting;
- Using a cell phone for email, social media, taking a picture or video, or looking at directions;
- Adjusting or using a GPS device, including a cell phone or non-cell phone device;
- Talking to a passenger;
- Talking on a cell phone, dialing, or searching for a cell phone;
- Looking out the side window at something;
- Adjusting the radio or playlist on a phone;
- Disruptive passenger(s);
- Adjusting the position of the seat;
- Searching for something in the rear seat or passenger seat;
- Eating or drinking;
- Applying makeup; and
- Much more.
Cell Phones
Cell phone use while driving is the ultimate form of distracted driving, and causes an unknown number of fatalities and serious injuries every year. Cell phone caused collisions are under-reported, according to the National Safety Council, and there is no safe way to use a cell phone behind the wheel of a car, whether it is hands free or not. While texting is obviously dangerous, and illegal, talking on a hands free or handheld phone is also extremely risky, as it causes drivers to miss seeing half of what is around them due to cognitive distraction alone.
Reach Out to Our Sarasota Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys
Regardless of how or why the other driver was distracted, the experienced Sarasota distracted driving accident attorneys at Hale Law can help you prove that they were negligent, and therefore hold them liable for your damages. To schedule a free consultation with a Sarasota attorney, call 941-735-4529 today.
