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Distracted driving causes many accidents and injuries


Distracted driving has become one of the primary causes of car accidents in Vancouver and other cities in Canada. Anytime a driver’s eyes are taken off the road, hands are taken off the steering wheel, or one’s focus is taken off driving, the risk of crashing multiplies significantly. When British Columbia residents on shopping or other trips south of the border are involved in distracted driving accidents, damage recovery becomes a complicated process. 

Cell phones are not the only source of distraction

While cell phones are linked to a significant number of distracted driving accidents, many other activities make driving the secondary task, including the following: 

  • Eating and drinking 
  • Doing makeup 
  • Shaving 
  • Adjusting a vehicle’s sound system 
  • Fidgeting with GPS and other technology 
  • Conversing with a passenger in a distracting way 
  • Attending to children or animals in the vehicle 

Sadly, the victims of distracted driving accidents often include occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians. 

Most likely distracted drivers

Reportedly, the younger the driver, the higher the likelihood of distracted driving. While drivers of any age can be distracted, it is the way they deal with the distractions that impacts the risk of collision risk. Teenage drivers do not typically have to deal with distractions such as young children in the vehicle. However, their inexperience prevents them from knowing how to adjust their driving when they are distracted. Older, more experienced drivers are more likely to reduce travel speed in such situations, while teen drivers tend to maintain their current speed. 

Complications for crash victims south of the border

If you are the victim of a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you typically have grounds to pursue financial relief through insurance and the civil justice system. It can be a complicated process, though, and if the accident occurred south of the border, it could be even more challenging. This is because you may have to deal with the insurance and civil laws of both countries. In such scenarios, a cross-border personal injury attorney can be an enormous help.