10 Common Causes of Distracted Driving Accidents in Pennsylvania
Each year, distracted drivers cause well over 10,000 auto accidents in Pennsylvania. These are all accidents that can—and should—be avoided. Distracted driving can be extremely dangerous, and there is no excuse for putting someone else’s safety at risk unnecessarily.
Part of the reason why distracted driving accidents are so common in Pennsylvania is that there are so many potential distractions behind the wheel. While texting behind the wheel is one concern (and, despite Pennsylvania’s anti-texting law, texting-related accidents remain common), drivers can easily get distracted by many other things as well.
Dangerous (and Potentially Deadly) Driving Distractions
Regardless of the specific issue involved, if you or a loved one was involved in a car accident involving distracted driving in Pennsylvania, you and your family may be entitled to financial compensation. Distracted driving is negligent driving, and distracted drivers can—and should—be held accountable.
Here are 10 of the most common causes of distracted driving accidents in Pennsylvania:
1. Texting
Even though texting behind the wheel is illegal in Pennsylvania, it is clear that many people still send and receive texts while driving. Texting is among the leading causes of distracted driving accidents in Pennsylvania. Like many of the other distractions on this list, texting while driving is dangerous for multiple reasons:
- It takes drivers’ hands off of the wheel.
- It takes drivers’ eyes off of the road.
- It takes drivers’ minds off of the task at hand.
Reading the average text message takes about five seconds. As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains, “[a]t 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.” Sending a text message can take much longer and can be much more dangerous as a result.
2. Scrolling Social Media
Scrolling social media is also a common cause of distracted driving accidents in Pennsylvania. Even though drivers should put their phones out of reach and turn off notifications so they aren’t tempted to check for updates, many people can’t help but open Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok while driving. Anything on social media can wait, and, again, it isn’t worth putting others in harm’s way.
3. Posting on Social Media
Not only do many drivers scroll social media while driving, but many drivers post to social media while driving as well. Whether posting photos or responding to comments, posting on social media presents all of the same risks as texting behind the wheel. If a driver causes a car accident while posting on social media, not only can the driver be held liable for the crash, but the driver’s post can be used as evidence of liability as well.
4. Talking on the Phone
Whether handheld or hands-free, talking on the phone while driving is distracting. While hands-free calling may not take drivers’ hands off of the wheel, important and intense conversations can still be mentally distracting. Sure, some drivers may be able to multitask to an extent, but there comes a point at which focusing on a conversation will divert any driver’s concentration from the task of paying attention to traffic and the road ahead.
5. Talking to Passengers
Talking to passengers can be equally distracting—and even more so in some cases. This is especially true when talking to passengers in the back seat. If a driver is constantly turning around or looking at his or her passengers in the rearview mirror, having a conversation in the car can be both mentally and visually distracting.
6. Navigating with GPS
GPS technology has changed the way that many people get where they need to go. Thanks to GPS, navigating is easier than ever, and knowing where you are going can reduce your risk of causing a collision in some cases.
But navigating with GPS can be distracting as well. If a driver is trying to follow GPS directions—especially when approaching a busy intersection—this can also take the driver’s eyes and mind off of the task at hand. As a result, in many cases, drivers who are distracted by their GPS screens hit other vehicles without ever realizing that they are about to cause a crash.
7. Watching Videos or Playing Games
Watching videos and playing games on the phone are extremely dangerous driving distractions that are also far too common. Here, too, there is no excuse for this dangerous behavior and drivers who cause serious or fatal accidents while watching videos or playing games deserve to be held fully accountable.
8. Eating, Drinking or Smoking
Eating, drinking and smoking behind the wheel can also be distracting. Even if these tasks aren’t as mentally stimulating as sending a text, holding a conversation or following GPS directions, they can still get in the way of driving safely. It only takes a split second for something to go wrong, and if a driver can’t get his or her hands on the wheel because they are occupied with something else, he or she is far more likely to cause a crash.
9. Personal Grooming
Personal grooming (i.e., shaving or putting on makeup) presents risks similar to eating, drinking, and smoking behind the wheel. If someone isn’t ready to go when it is time to leave the house, it is far better to be a few minutes late than to take the risk of causing a serious or fatal accident.
10. Rubbernecking
Rubbernecking remains an extremely common cause of distracted driving accidents as well. In many cases, drivers cause accidents while looking at the aftermath of other accidents on the side of the road. No matter why a driver is distracted, if the driver’s distraction leads to an accident, any and all victims of the accident are entitled to just compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Our Lawyers Can Help After a Distracted Driving Accident in Pennsylvania
If you or a loved one got hit by a distracted driver in Pennsylvania, our lawyers can help you seek the financial compensation you and your loved ones deserve. To get started with a free, no-obligation consultation, call 888-777-7098 or contact us online today.