Driver “Inattention” a Leading Cause of Accidents

You wouldn’t think that paying attention behind the wheel would be difficult. While controlling a vehicle that may weigh several tons, traveling at a high rate of speed, paying attention seems to come naturally for most of us. But still, inattentive drivers are often those blamed for the most serious of car accidents.

A deadly accident that occurred last month in Jefferson County, New York, showed just how dangerous inattention can be. A truck driver is being blamed for being inattentive at the wheel. He missed caution signs as he approached an area of road work. His 18-wheeler eventually rear ended an SUV stopped for traffic. It triggered a chain reaction which wound up killing 6 people in all.

While initial reports from the accident indicated there were no text messages sent and no phone calls made by the truck driver just before the accident, investigators now say he wasn’t paying attention.

While texting, emailing, or checking Facebook on your phone are what we commonly think of when we think of distracted or inattentive driving, these behaviors haven’t been around for that long and distracted driving has been. In other words, technology isn’t the only distraction on the road.

As defined by Distraction.gov, a government website targeted at combating distracted driving, distractions can include anything that diverts “a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.” These potential distractions include:

• Texting
• Using a phone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming (make-up, hair, and even shaving)
• Reading
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player or MP3 player.

Distracted driving can also be caused by tiredness. Even if you aren’t sleepy, if you find yourself deep in thought or daydreaming, you may miss important signs on the road, including those for road construction, as did the truck driver in the deadly accident above.

Limiting your own distractions can prevent New York and New Jersey car accidents. But, you can’t always limit the distractions of other people. In situations like this, inattentive driving can impact your life even if you are a safe and competent driver.

About Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C.

The New York car accident attorneys of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., have represented numerous good drivers who were victimized by the reckless driving behaviors of others. From mothers distracted by kids in the backseat to teenagers distracted by their phone—distracted drivers can cause tragic and damaging accidents.

Depending on the facts of your case, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries, your pain and suffering, and more. Contact us today for a free consultation and to see how we can help. Our attorneys can be reached at 1-800-LAW-2000 or by filling out our online contact form.