Unexpected Causes of Distracted Driving

After getting into a car accident, the parties involved usually want to understand the reason for the collision. 

While an accident or accident attorney may help clients pinpoint what caused the unfortunate incident, victims may explore a few possibilities on their own. For instance, perhaps distracted driving caused the accident. Here are several unexpected causes of distracted driving. 

Listening to a Favorite Song

Singing while behind the wheel with both hands on the steering wheel and both eyes on the road may seem harmless, but jamming out could cause a collision. Teenage drivers who crank up their favorite songs are prone to driving misjudgments and mistakes. Rather than leave their favorite tracks for when they get home, drivers should instead make sure they play their music at a lower level.

Driving While Emotional

A distressing phone call or life circumstances could make someone furious or anxious. Intense emotions could lead to a motor vehicle accident if the person gets behind the wheel. It's better to wait several minutes to breathe and get grounded before hitting the road.

Using Hands-Free Technology

While using speech-to-text commands to send a text message or speakerphone to conduct a phone conversation may seem safer while driving, hands-free technology could cause a driver to become distracted. The issue is that after using voice commands, a motorist could switch to manually operating the phone to change it back to car mode. This could lead to distractions that cause an unnecessary motor vehicle accident.

Driving With Pets in the Car

While dogs represent man's best friend, they can become a liability in the car. Motorists who let their dogs and other pets sit in their laps while driving could become distracted while feeding or petting their companion, which may trigger an accident. No matter how much a pet may whine, it's better to leave it in a car kennel or use a pet restraint.

Holding a Full Bladder

Drivers should check in with themselves before hitting the open road to make sure they don't need to use the bathroom. This may seem amusing or obvious, but driving with a full bladder can impede a driver's focus and judgment.

Driving With Kids

Driving with kids and babies could take a person's eyes off the road long enough for him or her to miss pedestrians, other vehicles and traffic lights. It's not unusual for parents and caretakers to take their eyes off the road for several minutes during a 16-minute trip.

Building a valid legal case involves gathering evidence. Distracted driving may easily turn a person into an at-fault party.