As you work on checking off your list of objectives for the day, you may share California roads with countless others. Each of your neighboring drivers may have his or her own set of objectives in mind, and some could be attempting to tackle more than one task at a time while behind the wheel.
While some signs of a distracted driver may involve little more than a vehicle that lingers in place as a light turns green, other can be considerably more hazardous. Distracted drivers may also be susceptible to making unexpected lane changes or running through red lights, both of which could place your safety at risk.
Categories of inattention
Encountering a distracted driver can be a daunting experience that may leave you with little time to react and steer out of harm’s way. While driver distractions can come in a multitude of forms, such actions typically fall under one of three categories, which include:
- Manual: Manual distractions refer to any action that forces a driver to take one or both hands off the wheel, such as changing a radio station or reaching for something in the passenger seat while driving.
- Visual: Actions that divert your eyes off the road fall under the category of visual distractions, and anything that prompts a similar response can leave you unprepared for a variety of scenarios.
- Cognitive: Carrying on a phone conversation is one example of an action that takes up at least a portion of your concentration, and such cognitive distractions can have devastating repercussions.
- All three: Actions such as reading or writing a text message technically fall under all three categories, and, as such, they can severely impact your ability to safely operate a vehicle.
Should the actions of a distracted driver cause a collision that leaves you with serious injuries, you might be wondering about the next steps to take to seek restitution through the civil justice system.
Pursuing compensation
Suffering severe harm in a collision can be stressful and daunting, and the incident could leave you facing an extensive amount in medical costs and a long road to recovery. Following the crash, it may be in your best interest to speak with someone with experience in such matters for guidance on your available options for legal recourse. Such guidance could help you better prepare to seek the full amount of compensation you deserve and help you transition into the recovery period with financial peace of mind.