Although driving is an attention-intensive activity, many people choose to check text messages, eat, or apply makeup behind the wheel. Distracted drivers are more likely to make mistakes and slower to respond to sudden traffic changes, resulting in personal injury accidents that cause thousands and nearly 400,000 injuries every year. Here are a few different types of distractions that can cause accidents and expose you to liability suits or criminal charges.

The 4 Types of Distraction

1. Manual Distraction

Taking your hands off the wheel only for a moment can delay your reaction time, causing you to lose control of the vehicle and making it impossible to avoid obstacles and other vehicles. Eating, drinking, smoking cigarettes, or looking for something in a handbag are common, potentially fatal examples of manual distraction.

2. Visual Distraction

Safe driving means constantly monitoring the traffic conditions around you, which requires your full attention. Even looking away from the road to adjust temperature controls, read a text, or adjust a GPS device can cause you to drift into another lane and leave you unable to respond if someone stops suddenly in front of the vehicle. 

3. Cognitive Distraction

If your mind is not fully engaged with driving the vehicle, you might not notice hazards and make mistakes that could lead to an accident. Talking on a cell phone, daydreaming, or drinking while driving are all considered forms of cognitive distraction.

4. Texting While Driving

Because it involves all three types of distraction, texting while driving is uniquely dangerous. To address the threat, New York and many states have banned texting behind the wheel and allow victims injured in these personal injury accidents to collect compensation from the liable party.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted driver, the personal injury attorney at Neimark & Neimark in New City, NY, will protect your rights and ensure you’re fairly compensated for any losses. This law office has been serving Orange and Rockland Counties for over 40 years, collecting millions on behalf of their clients. Visit their website for more on their personal injury expertise. Call (888) 725-7424 for a consultation.