Operating a motor vehicle is a dangerous endeavor that requires a driver’s full and undivided attention. A safe driver keeps his or her eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel and mind on the driving task at all times. Our experienced personal injury lawyers in Pittsburgh have seen texting and driving as a significant driver distraction that contributes to thousands of motor vehicle accidents each year.
Three Types of Driver Distraction
A motor vehicle driver can be distracted in three ways: visually, manually and cognitively. Visual distractions refer to anything that takes a driver’s eyes away from the road, such as looking down, reading, staring at a map or GPS, or rubbernecking a car accident.
Manual distractions take one or both of a driver’s hands off the steering wheel. Holding a cell phone or other items, adjusting a radio or infotainment system, personal grooming activities, and trying to pick something up off the floorboard are all examples of manual distractions that can interfere with the proper handling of a vehicle.
Cognitive distractions take a driver’s mind away from the driving task. This can result in delayed reaction times, missed turns or exits, and poor judgment or decision-making. A driver needs to remain alert and aware of his or her surroundings to avoid car accidents – not mentally distracted by thoughts, emotions, daydreaming or drowsiness.
Why Is Texting and Driving So Dangerous?
Reading, writing and sending text messages while driving are such dangerous driver behaviors because they meet all three types of distracted driving. Texting absorbs a driver’s visual, manual and cognitive attention simultaneously – significantly reducing the driver’s ability to notice and react to changing roadway situations.
A driver who is texting while driving is more likely to make dangerous mistakes behind the wheel, such as:
- Running a red light
- Rolling through a stop sign
- Failing to yield the right-of-way at an intersection
- Failing to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk
- Speeding
- Tailgating or following too closely
- Making unsafe lane changes
- Drifting or weaving in between lanes
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way road
- Missing traffic signs and signals
- Violating other traffic laws
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), looking down at a cell phone for just five seconds while driving is the equivalent of driving across an entire football field blindfolded. The NHTSA reported 3,522 deaths caused by distracted drivers in 2021 alone. Many of these deadly collisions involved texting and driving.
What to Do if You Get Injured in a Texting and Driving Accident in Pittsburgh
If you get involved in a car accident in Pittsburgh and you believe the other driver is to blame due to texting while driving, contact a Pittsburgh car accident attorney at Dallas W. Hartman P.C., Attorneys at Law for a free consultation about your legal rights and options for seeking a financial recovery.
We will review your car accident case and search for evidence against the distracted driver, such as his or her cell phone records. If we believe you have a claim, we can take over the insurance process to fight for maximum financial compensation for you. Call (800) 777-4081 today for a free case review about a texting and driving car accident in Pennsylvania.