Your brain cannot concentrate on more than one thing at a time. Therefore, if you are having a conversation with a passenger, talking on your cellphone or simply lost in thought, you are not fully focused on road conditions. Driving in Michigan while distracted can significantly increase your risk of getting into a crash.
Talking to passengers can take your eyes off of the road
The reason why talking to a passenger is such a distraction is because you are tempted to look at people when you talk to them. However, doing so means that you are taking your eyes off of the road, which causes a visual distraction. The same thing happens when you glance back at a crying child or look down for your phone after it falls between the front seats.
Your cellphone may cause you to take your hands off of the steering wheel
Anything that forces you to take your hands off of the steering wheel is considered to be a manual distraction. When your hands are off of the wheel, it becomes harder to take evasive action in a timely manner. It also makes it extremely difficult to maintain your lane or keep control of your vehicle in general. Changing the radio station or programming a GPS device may also create manual distractions.
Getting lost in thought in a cognitive distraction
Over time, you get used to taking the same route to school or work each day. Therefore, instead of focusing on what the car in front of you is doing, you start thinking about your presentation or how many days are left until the weekend. This is an example of a cognitive distraction that may result in a motor vehicle accident even if it doesn’t seem like much of a hazard.
If your car is struck by one operated by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation. A financial award may help to pay for medical bills, lost wages or other damages incurred because of another person’s reckless behavior.
