Often when one hears the term distracted driving the first thing that comes to mind is a driver who is texting while operating a vehicle. While this is certainly an example of an activity that constitutes distracted driving it is only one of many. Eating and drinking while driving can be a distraction as can applying makeup. Even reaching for something could be a distracting activity. As a truck driver travelling through Alabama learned firsthand, apparently so too can pulling a loose tooth.
The actions of the driver led the truck he was driving to veer off the road and into the ditch. It struck some trees and jackknifed. Following the crash a three-mile stretch of the Interstate was shutdown and many drivers were delayed.
The driver and others sharing the road with the truck were lucky as no serious injuries were reported. It is easy to imagine however how a distracted behavior such as the one the man was engaged in could lead to crash resulting in serious injuries such as broken bones, spinal or brain injuries. Injuries such as these can leave the life of the injured person forever changed and lead to great expense. Those who find themselves in this situation may not be aware that they have options.
When a crash due to distracted driving occurs, individuals who are injured in the accident could file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver whose negligence caused the accident to occur. If successful, the injured person could receive financial compensation. While that compensation cannot undo harm that has been inflicted, it is often of use in covering medical expenses and can make it easier to adjust to a new way of life.
