There are three main types of distractions. These are visual distractions, manual distractions and cognitive distractions. Any one of the three can cause an accident.
People are often most familiar with the first two. If a driver looks down at the phone so that they’re not looking at the road, it’s clear that they are being visually distracted. If a driver reaches into the back seat to hand something to a passenger, that would qualify as a manual distraction. Many people engage in these types of activities all the time when they eat food from a drive-thru, drink a cup of coffee, engage with passengers, interact with their children and much more.
Drivers may not appear distracted, but they may mentally “check out”
Cognitive distractions are different because they can be much harder to identify. The driver may still appear to be paying attention to what they’re doing, holding the wheel and things of this nature. But they are simply not thinking about driving. They’re not focusing on it and they’re not concentrating.
Why not? There are plenty of reasons. Talking on the phone is a cognitive distraction. Listening to the radio could also qualify. Even daydreaming can cause car accidents, if a person’s mind just wanders on their daily commute. Road rage could even be a type of cognitive distraction if someone starts thinking about how angry they are with another driver.
Because distractions are so common, they often lead to serious accidents. Those who have suffered injuries need to know how to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and any other costs.