A Roseville man has been hospitalized after his car crashed while he was distracted by a burrito that he was eating, according to recent reports.
The victim was traveling east on Madison Avenue when he crashed into the center divider, causing his car to roll several times until it finally stopped close to the intersection of San Juan Avenue and Madison Avenue. The CHP reported that the man was eating a burrito and hit the divider when he was not paying attention. The driver, a man in his 20s, was taken to Mercy San Juan Medical Center with minor injuries. CHP also believes that speed may have been a factor in the crash.
What is a Distracted Driver?
A distracted driver is defined as a driver participating in any activity that can divert attention from the primary task of driving a vehicle. All distractions have the potential to compromise the safety of a driver or his/her passengers, as well as bystanders.
There are numerous activities that can cause distracted driving, including:
- Using a cell phone for texting or talking
- Talking to passengers
- Watching a video
- Eating or drinking
- Grooming
- Reading
- Using a navigation system or map
While these and many other distractions pose a potential risk for drivers, texting is by far the most prevalent and alarming distraction due to the fact that it requires manual, cognitive, and visual attention from the driver. When you are texting, the average time your eyes are off the road is five seconds. If you are travelling just 55 miles per hour, you have enough time to cover the entire length of a football field in that five seconds.
Statistics from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute show that one quarter of teenagers send or respond to a text message at least one or more times every time they drive. To make matters worse, 10 percent of parents and 20 percent of teenagers have admitted to having extended, multi-message conversations via text while driving.
Who Can Help If I’ve Been Hurt In An Accident?
The attorneys at the Ashley Injury Lawyers of Roseville understand that you cannot control what other drivers are doing on the roadway, but that does not mean that someone else’s negligence should ruin your life. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident because of someone else’s negligence, the attorneys at the Ashley Injury Lawyers can help. Contact them today for a free case evaluation.
