Most people that regularly travel the streets and highways of Mississippi recognize that using a cell phone to talk or text is dangerous but may not realize that this is only one of many causes of driver inattention that result in serious car accidents.  A study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute revealed that a shocking eighty percent of all motor vehicle accidents are caused in part by lack of driver attention.  While there have been attempts to address the problem of driver inattention in recent years, the laws have tended to focus exclusively on cell phone use for calls and texting.  The reality is that there are many other forms of driver distraction that continue to go unnoticed.

It goes without saying that the prevalence of mobile phones and other portable electronic devices have substantially increased the scope of distracted driving, but there are many other causes of driving inattention:

• Reaching for objects in a vehicle
• Eating and drinking
• Brushing or combing one’s hair
• Putting on makeup
• Reading a newspaper or book
• Carrying on a conversation with someone in the vehicle

While this is hardly an exhaustive list, it demonstrates that there are many forms of driver distraction that have nothing to do with cell phones.  The most dangerous driver distraction according to the Virginia Tech study involves reaching for objects in one’s vehicle including swatting a fly, picking up a cell phone that has fallen or grabbing a coffee cup.  A driver who reaches for an object in the passenger compartment while driving is nine times more likely to cause an auto accident or a near miss.  The study revealed that looking at an object in one’s vehicle increased the risk of being involved in motor vehicle accident 3.7 times.  The act of dialing a number on a cell phone increased the risk of being involved in an accident three times, which is the same increase associated with putting on makeup.

While restrictions on the use of cell phones and portable electronic devices while driving are a step in the right direction, there are many types of driver distraction that continue to contribute to severe injuries in motor vehicle collisions.  When a driver does not focus their entire physical, mental and visual attention on the roadway and potential hazards, the risk of a serious Mississippi auto accident is unacceptably high.  Inattentive drivers may cause accidents in a variety of ways including:

• Failing to notice an interruption in the flow of traffic
• Delayed response time when braking or maneuvering around a traffic hazard
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Failing to navigate curves in the road
• Colliding with pedestrians in crosswalks
• Drifting out of one’s lane or off the roadway

These are just a few of the types of driver errors that may be caused by distracted drivers.  If you or a close family member is injured or a loved one dies in a distracted driving accident, you may have a right to compensation for your injuries or loss of companions, support and guidance of a loved one.  The experienced Mississippi motor vehicle accident attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing effective representation to Mississippi auto accident victims for over 75 years.  We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.