Distracted Driving Is Caused by More Than Just Phones

Drivers who are not focusing 100% on their driving deserve to be held accountable for any accidents they cause. In just one second, a car traveling 60 mph an hour travels nearly 90 feet.  In that second, a driver can shift into another lane, rear-end another vehicle, or run a traffic light or stop sign.  Distracted driving is inexcusable. Our Pittsburgh distracted driving lawyers hold unfocused drivers accountable for any deaths or injuries they cause.

Why is distracted driving dangerous?

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted driving is any activity that causes a driver to fail to concentrate on the traffic around them. Distracted driving includes:

• Taking your eyes off the road, traffic signs, and vehicles around you
• Removing your hands from the steering wheel
• Taking your mind off of possible traffic emergencies

How common are distracted driving accidents?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving caused 3,308 deaths in 2022.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation,  60 Pennsylvanians died in traffic accidents due to distracted driving in 2021.

What are the different types of distracted driving other than cell phone use?

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation identifies several types of distracted driving beyond texting and using cell phones.  All of these types of distractions are preventable with planning before the trip, pulling off the side of the ride or into a safe location, or just waiting to complete the trip.

• Eating: Whether it’s a sandwich from Primanti Brothers, a Pittsburgh salad (a salad with French Fries), pierogies, a Prantl’s Burnt Almond Torte, or any type of food topped with Heinz ketchup; eating while driving is dangerous. Eating while driving requires using at least one hand and looking at the food instead of the road. This distraction can cause difficulty staying in the lane and stopping in time.
• Drinking: Drinking a nonalcoholic drink like soda or water has the same dangers as eating. Drinking an alcoholic drink is much more dangerous. Just one beer can cause slow judgment and poor reflexes. Multiple drinks can cause driver intoxication. In Pennsylvania, driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .08 or more is illegal because drivers with a high BAC are likely to cause serious injuries and deaths.
• Smoking: Smoking a cigarette requires reaching for the cigarette, lighting the cigarette, using one hand to hold the cigarette, and placing the cigarette securely in an ashtray or a similar object. Vaping is dangerous for similar reasons, especially if a driver tries to refill their tank or rebuild a coil while driving. Some of the other dangers associated with vaping while driving include:
  • Using products like drip-style models that require frequent refilling of e-juice.
  • Not storing the batteries properly – which creates a fire risk
  • Visibility problems because vaping devices create smoke that can make it hard to see. Vaping tends to produce clouds that are thicker than cigarette smoke.
  • Both vaping and smoking can also cause light-headedness and dizziness.
• Looking at a GPS: Whether the driver is an Uber driver, a Lyft driver, a truck driver, or a driver traveling in an unfamiliar location, looking at a GPS is dangerous. A GPS should be set with the audio on so the driver can hear the instruction instead of looking at the GPS.
• Adjusting entertainment devices like a radio, CD player, cassette: Adjusting a radio, CD player, or cassette tape can lead to accidents as it takes a hand off the wheel and eyes off the road.
• Watching a video: Under no circumstances should a driver watch a video of any kind while driving. Focusing on a screen while driving is almost asking for a distracted driving accident.
• Reading: Reading a newspaper, map, magazine, or instructions while driving takes the driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off of how to respond to any traffic emergency that may occur.
• Grooming: You don’t need to perfect your hairstyle or makeup while driving. You need to focus on the road. Drivers can take a few minutes after they stop to comb or brush their hair or apply makeup.
• Rubbernecking: Rubbernecking is looking at a car accident or work zone while driving. Drivers should keep their eyes on the road ahead instead of looking backward.
• Tending to a child or pet: If a child or a pet is uncomfortable or misbehaving in any way, the driver should pull off the road as quickly as possible to take care of the child or pet. Tending to a person or pet can be doubly dangerous because the person/pet may move while you’re caring for them.
• Looking at the people in the car instead of the road: Drivers, especially teenagers, need to understand that they can hold a conversation without turning and looking at the person they’re speaking to.

Who is liable for a distracted driving accident in Pittsburgh?

At Carmody and Ging, Injury & Accident Lawyers, we file claims against all responsible parties. When a distracted driver causes an accident, we pursue a personal injury claim against the driver. We may also file a personal injury claim against:

• The employer of the driver: For example, if the local pizza delivery driver is looking at a GPS while driving, we may file a claim against the pizza company that employs the driver.
• The owner of the vehicle: If the owner of the vehicle is different from the driver, we may file a claim against the owner. A common example is when a parent allows their teenager to drive the parent’s car.
• Other defendants depending on the circumstances.

Driving should be simple. You keep your hands on the wheel, your eyes on the road, and your mind on the traffic around you. If you are injured or a loved one dies because of a distracted driver, our Pittsburgh car accident lawyers have the experience and reputation to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.