Top Causes of Distracted Driving
Not everyone realizes how much distracted driving can impact driving abilities. Smartphones are not the only type of driving distraction. Being aware of how distractions cause car accidents might help you avoid accidents in the future. If you were in a distracted driving accident, then consider asking a Wilmington car accident lawyer for help.
CAUSES OF DISTRACTED DRIVING
Several things happen in the brain while driving because driving is an activity that requires multi-tasking. A driver has to maintain the right speed limit, adapt to 
changes on the road, stay in the correct lane, brake when needed, and check mirrors or blind spots.
The reason distracted driving is risky is that this adds more tasks to the multi-tasking activity that driving already is. If someone is texting while driving, for example, that driver will need to read a text, think of a response, type a response, and then send the response. All of this has to be done while the driver has to operate the steering wheel, maintain the accelerator, stay in the correct lane, and adapt to road changes.
When the brain is overloaded with too many tasks at once, mistakes are more likely to be made. This seems to happen because the brain has to divide up effort into each activity. The brain is limited in terms of how much can be handled at once. Inattention blindness, when the brain fails to process all of the information in an environment while multi-tasking, may explain why this happens.
Not processing everything could easily lead to failing to notice an important change on the road. A last-minute turn, a pedestrian crossing the street, and uneven road changes are common examples. The effects of distracted driving look like veering into the wrong lane, swerving, driving slower, and tailgating.
TYPES OF DISTRACTED DRIVING
The three main types of distracted driving are manual, visual, and cognitive. Manual driving distractions involve taking hands off the steering wheel. Texting while driving, reaching for something in the car, eating, and adjusting the radio are common examples.
Visual driving distractions happen anytime something other than driving takes the driver’s eyes off the road. This might look like texting, adjusting GPS or radio settings, or looking for something in the back of the car. Cognitive driving distractions take the mind away from focusing on driving. Arguments and intense conversations can cause this.
If you think you were in a car accident with a distracted driver, then you could be eligible for compensation. Start by contacting a Wilmington car accident lawyer to figure out your legal options. An experienced lawyer can help you build a strong car accident claim to help maximize coverage for damages caused by the accident.
CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY IN DELAWARE
No one should have to pay for a car accident caused by someone else. Feel free to call Edelstein Martin & Nelson by dialing (302) 295-5050 to speak with a Delaware personal injury lawyer for a consultation today about your legal options. Our team of attorneys is ready to help you increase your chances of compensation for lost income, pain and suffering, and medical costs caused by the accident.
