When a person is behind the wheel of a vehicle, it is important for him or her to stay completely focused on the road. Doing anything that takes the focus off the task at hand can greatly increase the chance of a car accident. Distracted driving is often the result of a person using a phone while driving, but it can also happen when a person is doing other things, such as eating.
Most people eat while driving on occasion, but most also do not realize how truly dangerous that seemingly innocuous behavior can be. Any time a person is doing something other than driving and focusing on the road, it counts as distracted driving. There are risks involved with even drinking coffee or eating a sandwich while operating a vehicle, and it can also endanger every other person on the road.
Three main types of distraction
When you think about distracted driving, you probably think about someone texting while driving, talking on the phone or even checking social media while operating a vehicle. Obviously, this is very dangerous, but eating and driving can be just as risky. This is because it involves all three types of distraction, as seen in the following examples:
- When a person is eating, he or she has at least one hand off the wheel, which is manual distraction.
- While eating, a person is likely to take his or her eyes off the road for at least a few seconds at a time, which is visual distraction.
- Eating can be lead to a person’s mind being on something else besides driving, which is cognitive distraction.
A person is eating while driving may be just a likely to cause an accident as a person who is texting or using his or her phone while behind the wheel. If you are the victim of an accident caused by a negligent or reckless Florida driver, it is possible some form of distraction is to blame.
Picking up the pieces
As a victim of a distracted driving accident, you have rights. It is possible to hold liable parties accountable for what you suffered through a personal injury claim. This step can allow you to pursue recompense for your financial losses related to your accident, including your medical bills, missed wages from work and more. If you think you have a valid claim, you may want to start by seeking a complete evaluation of your case.