Distracted driving is an extremely common problem on North Carolina roads. Despite the known risks posed by driver inattention, most drivers are guilty of distracted driving at least once in their lives. Anything that takes a driver’s hands off the wheel, eyes off the road or attention off the driving task is a distraction that could potentially cause a serious car accident.
If you were injured in an accident caused by distracted driving, contact our Wilmington distracted driving accident lawyers at Shipman, Wright, & Moore, LLP to seek compensation. Schedule your free consultation today.
Cell Phones
The three types of driver distraction are manual, visual and cognitive. Cell phones are the most dangerous example of driver distraction because they fulfill all three types. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reading a single text message while traveling 55 miles per hour is the equivalent of driving across a football field blindfolded.
Manual cell phone use of any kind is dangerous because it requires the driver to look at the device, think about the content on the screen, and use one or both hands to respond or interact. Although North Carolina has passed laws banning mobile phone use for teen drivers under the age of 18, it is still a prominent crash risk.
Infotainment Systems
Modern cars come with mid-console screens and built-in “infotainment systems” that allow the driver to change the music, adjust the temperature, send messages, navigate, and more. Most of these systems are touchscreen, which require the driver to look at the screen to change the settings. This becomes a visual and manual distraction that can result in a crash if the driver isn’t careful.
Eating and Drinking
Picking up food or beverages and eating or drinking behind the wheel is a dangerous activity. Even though fast-food restaurants are designed to take food to go, eating and drinking while trying to drive is a manual distraction that could delay a driver’s response times enough to cause a deadly collision. If the driver drops something on the floorboard, stretching to try to reach it can also cause an accident.
Personal Grooming
Personal grooming is a significant driver distraction that can take a driver’s eyes off the road and hands off the steering wheel. Examples include brushing hair, applying makeup, shaving, flossing and cleaning clothes. Drivers attempting to multitask on their way to work or to social outings are most often guilty of this type of distraction.
Wandering Mind
Cognitive or mental distractions can be just as dangerous as visual and manual ones when it comes to impeding the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. If a driver’s mind is wandering or focused on something other than the driving task, the driver may not notice changing roadway situations in time to avoid an accident. Drug and alcohol intoxication can also cause mental distractions and brain fog.
Cognitive distractions can result in speeding, missing exits, failing to notice roadway signs, following too closely, delayed reaction times and poor judgment. Common examples of cognitive distractions are thinking about work, school, or a recent argument or conversation. Road rage, stress and other strong emotions are also dangerously distracting.
Get Help From a Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in Wilmington
If you get hit by a distracted driver in North Carolina, contact our distracted driving accident attorney in Wilmington, NC for legal advice and guidance during the claims process. Our lawyers at Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP can help you prove that the other driver involved in your crash was not paying enough attention or was multitasking, and that this is what caused your serious accident.