Louisiana Drivers And Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is when a person looks away from the task of driving or takes their hands off the vehicle controls because they are distracted by a conversation, a meal, or their cell phone, for example. Any activity that causes a person to divert their attention from the primary focus of operating a vehicle is considered distracted driving. According to one Louisiana Highway Safety Commission study, nearly 27,000 individuals, within four years, sustained injuries because of crashes caused by distracted driving.
After a Louisiana crash, you may need a Shreveport injury lawyer to secure a settlement that is high enough to help you cope with all of the expenses incurred in a collision. Distracted driving can be cognitive, manual, or physical. While mobile phones are one distraction, there are plenty of others. Connect with a skilled attorney about your damage recovery options.
Just Because a Device Is Hands-Free Doesn’t Mean It’s Safe
Sometimes, individuals believe that hands-free technology is risk free. After all, you may be able to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the street in front of you while using a hands-free device. The problem is your mind can still be distracted. An emotional conversation could lead to you not recognizing a road risk.
Best practice is to store your cell phone when you are driving. If you need to send a text message or make a phone call, pull over. This can be helpful in other ways as well because many digital devices have alert noises. A driver could be distracted by the indicator of incoming messages, without even looking at the device.
Avoid Multitasking and Focus on Driving
People often believe they can do more than one task at a time efficiently and successfully. But in reality the human brain has difficulty jumping from one task to another. Attention is needed to drive safely. Task switching can increase the risk of a crash. And it doesn’t take a long time for a wreck to occur. Crashes can happen in an instant, while distracted drivers are returning a text, unwrapping a sandwich, or turning to talk to someone in the backseat.
If you sustained an injury in a Louisiana crash, or if someone you care about was injured in a collision, connect with a Shreveport injury lawyer. There is a path to a full and fair settlement when another was reckless, including situations in which the negligent party was driving distracted. You should not have to pay for all of your crash expenses when another was at fault.
Are you healing from an injury you sustained in a car crash caused by a distracted driver? The personal injury lawyers at Rice & Kendig can negotiate with an insurance company for you. We truly care about our clients and devote our knowledge, skills and resources toward securing a great result every time. You do not need to navigate complicated negotiations on your own. Together, we can achieve success. Contact us today at 318-222-2772 to schedule your free consultation.
