Was the driver who hit you distracted at the time?

There’s no telling how long it might take to recover from your injuries after a car accident. You hopefully received medical attention immediately following the incident, whether or not your injuries were apparent at the time. Beyond physical recovery, which can be daunting, you may have other issues to resolve as well, especially if it was a distracted driving accident.

It’s critically important, as your physician likely told you, to closely monitor your condition in the weeks ahead because additional symptoms could develop at any time. You shouldn’t hesitate to reach out for additional support, however, if other challenges arise, such as those related to vehicle repair, insurance or other issues. Distracted driving collisions are preventable, which is why recovering victims often pursue compensation for damages.

Three types of distraction most frequently reported

Maybe the driver who hit you never even saw you because he or she was lost in thought at the time. You can’t necessarily tell if a person is daydreaming behind the wheel. Understanding the three main types of driving distraction may help you improve your own driving safety as well as increase awareness regarding signs that another driver might be distracted:

• A cognitive distraction relates to the mind and a driver’s thought process and brain activity. Anything that takes your mind off the task at hand is a cognitive distraction.
• A manual distraction occurs when you use your hands to carry out a task while driving, typically causing you to take your hands off the steering wheel.
• You become visually distracted when you take your eyes off the road.

It’s easier to become distracted while driving than most people realize. Visual distractions occur if a driver is staring at a roadside scene or looking down at a cell phone. Have you ever eaten or taken a drink while driving? These are manual distractions. It only takes a second for a tragedy to occur.

If you are the victim of a distracted driver

You can’t control another driver’s behavior. In certain circumstances, you may be able to react swiftly and safely enough to avoid a collision. However, distracted driving collisions often occur so suddenly there is no time to prepare or react to avert disaster. You shouldn’t have to bear full financial responsibility for a collision another person’s negligence caused.

Many Delaware accident victims seek financial recovery by filing personal injury claims against those deemed responsible for their injuries.