Austin Personal Injury Attorney

The Correlation Between Distractions and Car Accidents

It is not surprising that when people get distracted, they can easily make mistakes. This applies to driving just as much as any other activity. Many of the car accidents that occur here in Texas and elsewhere happen due to a driver becoming distracted by something either inside or outside the vehicle.

You have probably heard or read information regarding the dangers of texting and driving. While this tends to be one of the most dangerous distractions while driving, it is far from being the only thing that can take your attention off the road. Other activities, sights, and sounds create distractions as well, and they can have devastating consequences.

Talking to a passenger, allowing a pet to sit in your lap or looking at billboards are all distractions. Other behind-the-wheel behaviors that constitute distractions include eating, drinking and grooming. If you take the time to search for a favorite song, check or program your GPS, or using the infotainment system in your vehicle could take your eyes, hands and/or brain off the road. While you are doing anything in your vehicle other than driving and paying attention to the road, you could miss something critical and end up in an accident.

Of course, you can follow all of Texas's traffic laws and remain vigilant as you drive and still end up in a wreck. Sadly, you cannot control the actions of others, and it may be difficult to accurately identify the distracted driver in your vicinity in time. You would not be alone. Many innocent drivers end up in car accidents caused by distracted driving out of no fault of their own. If it happens to you, you could pursue restitution for your damages related to the crash.