Contrary to what you may initially think, driving requires multitasking. This is because drivers must simultaneously worry about steering, using signals, checking blind spots, maintaining speed, etc. And so, there is no room for any outside distraction. Continue reading to learn how common it is for car accidents to involve distracted driving and how an experienced Toronto car accident lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help you understand this.
What are the common types of distracted driving?
Put simply, distracted driving occurs when a driver participates in any kind of activity that takes their attention away from the road. The most commonly known form of distracted driving is texting while driving.
Unfortunately, texting while driving is still seen far too often on the Toronto roads even though it is illegal to do so. More specifically, it is illegal to use a phone or other handheld device when you are behind the wheel, even if you are stopped in traffic or at a red light. Of note, the only time that you may pick up a handheld device is to call 911 in the event of an emergency.
With that being said, other types of distracted driving are as follows:
- Turning to talk to your passengers or children in the back seat, which causes your vision to shift.
- Grabbing an item from the back seat, which causes your vision to shift.
- Listening to music at a high volume, which causes your attention to shift.
- Using a GPS, which causes your attention to shift.
- Eating or drinking while driving, which causes your hand movements to shift.
- Smoking while driving, which causes your hand movements to shift.
- Driving while drowsy or fatigued, which causes your mindset to shift.
- Driving while emotionally distressed, which causes your mindset to shift.
How common is it for car accidents to involve distracted driving?
Whether it results in a traffic violation, a personal injury accident, or a fatal accident, distracted driving should be taken as a serious offense. There is reported data that, in 2022 alone, there were over 8,000 cases of distracted driving seen in Toronto. With this, 66 of these cases resulted in death.
What should I do if I am involved in a distracted driving accident?
If you have ever been made a victim of a car accident that was due to the distracted driving of a negligent party, then you must hold them accountable by filing a personal injury claim. For your claim, you will have to prove that your injuries and damages are directly tied to the distracted driving of another party.
For assistance with executing this, you must retain the services of a skilled Ontario auto accident lawyer. We look forward to working with you.