According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) distracted driving kills 9 people and injures more than 1,000 people each day in the United states. The CDC lists three types of distractions common in these accidents. They include:
- Cognitive distractions, where the driver takes their mind off the job of driving;
- Manual distractions, where the driver takes their hands off the wheel; and
- Visual distractions, where the driver takes their eyes off the road.
Any of these alone or in combination can result in car accidents. Some examples of behavior that results in distracted driving include fiddling with the radio, talking on the phone, eating while driving, or trying to read a map or work a vehicle navigation system.
Texting is particularly dangerous, because when texting, the driver engages in cognitive, manual, and visual distractions at the same time. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) points out taking your eyes off the road for five seconds to send or read a text at 55 miles per hour is the equivalent of driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed. Car and truck accidents are inevitable as long as drivers engage in this type of behavior.
Types of auto accidents:
If you have been injured in an any type of auto accident it is import to contact an experience personal injury attorney near you right away.
When Someone is Injured in an Auto Accident
When someone is injured in an auto accident, they need an auto accident lawyer on their side to protect their interests. Injured parties are entitled to compensation for many different things, including:
- Lost wages;
- Hospital bills;
- Medication costs;
- Transportation costs to and from a doctor’s office;
- Physical therapy bills; and
- Other expenses related to the accident.
A personal injury attorney has relationships with doctors and other specialists who can assist in your recovery.