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What You Should Know About Distracted Driving

Home > Auto Accidents

Distracted driving has become an increasing problem as technology has advanced. While advanced safety technology has reduced fatalities over the years, humans are still flawed, and are prone to becoming distracted while driving. On average, nine lives are lost every day due to distracted driving, with a thousand others left injured.

Types of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving accidents occur when a person is operating a vehicle while preoccupied with another activity which diverts their attention. According to the CDC, there are three primary types of distractions:

  • Visual – any distraction which causes you to take your eyes off the road.
  • Cognitive – a distraction which diverts your mind from driving, daydreaming for example.
  • Manual – this kind of distraction is anything that causes you to take your hands off the wheel to attend to it – whether that be eating, drinking, or even adjusting the radio.

Some distractions fall under all three types of distractions, texting, for example. It diverts your mind, eyes, and hands from the task at hand. This is why texting while driving is one of the leading causes of accidents.

The CDC has reported that when traveling at 55 MPH, the action of sending or reading a text will take your eyes off the road for five seconds. That length of time is enough to travel the distance of a football field.

Preventing Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving preventions have been started in many states, including Utah. The hand-held use of cell phones while driving has technically been illegal in Utah for several years, however, representatives are pushing for a ban of any texting or calling, unless it’s hands-free.

There have also been many informative campaigns which have been launched in attempts to educate drivers of the dangers of driving distracted. However, the best way to ensure that you don’t drive distracted, is to decide not to do so yourself.

Some precautions you can take on the personal-level include:

  • If you ever feel drowsy while driving, park your vehicle, and take a nap. If that is not possible, call someone else to drive you home.
  • Your cell phone should only be reserved for emergency use while driving. If you must take or make a call, park your vehicle in a safe spot first.
  • Never exceed the number of passengers meant to be in your car – and be clear about appropriate behavior before your journey begins.
  • Refrain from eating or drinking while driving, if you need to eat, pull over before you do so.

Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving can be just as dangerous as driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you have been injured in a distracted driving accident, and are unsure of what to do next, contact our office today. Our personal injury lawyers have years of experience handling personal injury claims. Call our office today at 801-773-9488 for a free consultation and to speak with one of our experienced distracted driving accident attorneys.

Filed Under: Auto Accidents, Personal Injury Attorney

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents. This can be caused by more than just texting or talking on the phone while driving. Any task that takes your attention off of the road is considered distracted driving. This includes eating, adjusting the dials on the radio, or various other actions.

Veering

Veering to the sides of the lane may be caused by distracted driving. This is also a sign of drunk driving. Regardless of the cause, you should keep your distance from cars that consistently veer on the road. If possible, you may want to obtain the license plate number and inform the police. This can help get dangerous drivers off of the road.

Erratic Braking

Erratic braking is a sign that the driver isn’t paying attention to the road. If they aren’t paying attention, they will likely need to stop with little notice. Additionally, fluctuating speeds that don’t correlate with surrounding traffic may also indicate distracted driving.

Inclined Heads

A driver whose eyes aren’t fixed on the road is certainly distracted. Drivers often place their phones in their laps to avoid taking their hands off of the wheel. Inclined heads or wearing Bluetooth devices often indicate that a driver is distracted.

Taking Too Long at Red Lights

If a car waits too long to go after a red light turns green, they certainly aren’t paying attention. They will likely continue to text or pay attention to their phone as they begin to drive.

Knowing the signs of distracted driving can help keep you and your loved ones safe. Avoid distracted drivers as much as possible. If you or a loved one has been injured in a distracted driving accident, you should seek legal counsel. To obtain the best legal representation possible, contact us at LeBaron & Jensen today!

Filed Under: Auto Accidents

You can control your own actions, such as refraining from driving while intoxicated. Unfortunately, you can’t control the actions of others. It is important to pay attention to the other vehicles around you on the road to keep yourself and your passengers safe. Knowing the signs of a drunk driver can help you avoid them when you cross their path.

Signs of Intoxication

It is often fairly simple to detect a drunk driver. Driving in a straight line may seem like a relatively simple task, but a drunk driver often swerves because they can’t focus on the road. Hugging the center line is another indication that a driver is intoxicated. They are likely overcompensating for their inebriated state. Excessively braking or driving too slowly or too fast are signs that a driver is intoxicated.

Other signs that a driver is intoxicated include:

  • Persistent tailgating
  • Leaving lights off
  • Using signals inconsistent with their actions, like signaling left when turning right
  • Unusually wide turns
  • Slow response times

What to Do

When you cross paths with a drunk driver, you should slow down and put some distance between your car and theirs. Don’t try to pass them and don’t try to stop them. That is a job for the police. The best thing to do is pull over somewhere safe and contact the police.

Avoiding drunk drivers will help you stay safe. Inform the police when you come across a driver that you suspect may be intoxicated, because they are endangering everyone on the road. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, it is important to obtain legal counsel. To obtain superior legal representation, contact us at LeBaron & Jensen today!

Filed Under: Auto Accidents

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