Distracted driving is a dangerous problem for drivers in every state of the country, including Washington. It is a behavior that involves a driver allowing a distraction, such as a phone or a passenger, to consume their attention. When a driver is focused on something other than driving they put themselves and others at risk of serious motor vehicle accidents.
Drivers can become distracted by many things. For example, a driver may become distracted by their own car if they take their eyes off of the road to change the radio station or to program their heating or cooling system. However, many distractions that cause drivers to operate irresponsibly and that lead to vehicle collisions are things that are brought into vehicles from outside.
Food can be a distraction for a driver if they allow their sandwich, fries, drink or other consumable to take their focus away from the road. Maps, GPS systems, and navigation tools can be distractions even though they are intended to help drivers get to their destinations: drivers who use them while behind the wheels of their cars may cause crashes if they fail to pay attention to what is happening in front of them.
One of the most common distractions that plague modern day drivers, though, is the cell phone. Because cell phones can receive calls and texts, may stream videos and music and can send all kinds of data in the blink of an eye, drivers may be unaware of how dangerous it is to use them while operating vehicles despite the relative speed at which cell phones operate.
A driver who is distracted and who causes an accident may be liable for the injuries and harm that they cause. Victims of distracted driving car accidents should discuss their possible legal claims with personal injury attorneys.
