While reckless driving is the cause of many accidents in Louisiana, often the biggest cause is distractions on the driver’s part. Distracted driving is when the driver’s attention has been diverted away from operating the vehicle and increases the risk of crashing. The Lafayette distracted driving accident lawyers at Domengeaux Wright Roy & Edwards are prepared to handle a claim on your behalf.
There’s tremendous risk to being distracted while driving. If you are in another car and have been the victim of an accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver, if there is proof that their attention was not on the road. The number of these types of accidents continue to grow in Louisiana, and across the nation, with the distractions available to drivers.
Visual Distractions: Taking your eyes off the road. This can include looking in the mirror to check your appearance, looking at a GPS or map, reading a text message or any information on your cell phone, focusing on a passenger in a conversation or watching a video on an electronic device.
Manual Distractions: Taking your hands of the wheel. This can include texting, taking a call, personal grooming such as putting on makeup, getting dressed or brushing hair, adjusting the radio or eating and drinking.
Cognitive Distractions: Taking your mind off what you’re doing. This can include caring for or disciplining children or pets, focusing on a conversation with someone else in the car or a phone call, or focusing on a stressful situation unrelated to your drive.
Texting while driving in Louisiana is against the law. Louisiana has enacted legislation that bans texting for all drivers (which is a primary offense), hands-free usage in school zones, and no cell phone usage (including hands-free) for drivers under the age of 16.
Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. There is so much that indicates the dangers surrounding distracted driving, what is most problematic is the frequency that these behaviors still occur. It’s easy for drivers to assume they have learned to operate a vehicle with these distractions, but statistics prove that is not the reality.
If you have been the victim of a distracted driver, you could be owed compensation for your injuries. It’s important to have an experienced car accident attorney on your side. We protect the rights of all victims of accidents. People driving while distracted is out of your control, and when drivers are talking on their phones or texting, it can put you in danger.
