Common Causes of Distracted Driving Crashes in Richmond

In recent years with the increased use of smartphones, distracted driving crashes have become more common than ever, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). While many drivers in Virginia know that the use of handheld devices behind the wheel is unlawful, they make the decision to take a quick look at an email or to send or read a text anyhow. Even taking your eyes off the road for a few seconds can have grave consequences. And while the use of electronic devices is a frequent cause of distracted driving crashes, it is important to know that there are also many other causes of distracted driving accidents, too. Indeed, distracted driving collisions occurred long before cell phones became widely available, and many of those distractions continue to cause grievous harm in traffic crashes.

What are some of the most common causes of distracted driving accidents and injuries in the Richmond area? Our Richmond car accident lawyers can tell you more.

Use of Electronic Devices 

As we mentioned above, the use of handheld electronic devices while a motorist is behind the wheel is a common cause of distracted driving collisions — sending or reading a text, reading or drafting an email, or making a phone call. Yet even the hands-free use of an electronic device, which is not banned under Virginia law, can be dangerous. To be sure, drafting a text with the help of Siri while a phone is connected to the car through Bluetooth can be extremely distracting, as can talking in a hands-free mode or trying to change the GPS system. All of these forms of distractions can constitute negligence even if the distracting action is not prohibited expressly under Virginia law.

Talking to Vehicle Occupants 

Any motorist can get distracted by talking to another occupant in their vehicle, or even by thinking about a planned conversation with another person once they reach the destination. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underscores, cognitive distractions are very real dangers. In other words, even if you have your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, if your mind is not fully on the task of driving, a crash can occur.

Eating and Grooming 

Both eating and grooming — actions that drivers have been engaging in for decades — can be extremely distracted and are common causes of distracted driving crashes. As both the NSC and CDC emphasize, any action that takes your eyes off the road (a visual distraction) or a hand off the wheel (a manual distraction) can be a causal factor in a collision.

Contact a Richmond Distracted Driving Accident Attorney 

Distracted driving crashes are devastating, especially since they are entirely preventable. Much too often, Richmond residents are seriously injured in motor vehicle crashes caused by a distracted driver. One of the experienced Richmond distracted driving accident attorneys at Latham & Martin, P.C. can speak with you today about filing a claim to recover damages after a distracted driving crash. It is important to hold distracted drivers accountable in Virginia car crashes and to seek compensation for the losses you have incurred. Contact us today to find out more about filing a car accident claim or a civil lawsuit against the distracted driver who caused your injuries.

Sources:

law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-818.2/#:~:text=A.,a%20handheld%20personal%20communications%20devic.

cdc.gov/transportationsafety/distracted_driving/index.html

injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-safety-issues/distracted-driving/