Smartphones are only getting smarter. With each software update comes a variety of new apps designed to make your life easier – but those installations should come with warning signs.

Smartphones are a known cause of traffic accidents, with more and more drivers reporting being distracted by texts and calls while on the road. Data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 424,000 people were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2013 – a 10 percent increase in just two years. What’s more, 3,154 people died.

Of course, phones are not the only driver distractions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorizes driver distractions into three broad groups:

Visual distractions, which cause you to take your eyes off the road;
Manual distractions, which inhibit your physical abilities;
And cognitive distractions, which take your focus off the task of driving.

If you or a loved one was injured by a distracted, drunk or otherwise negligent driver, contact Christopher Trainor & Associates. A Detroit personal injury lawyer will help you claim compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and non-economic damages.

Call 1-800-961-8477 today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Let’s take a look at nine of the most common driver distractions:

9 Common Driver Distractions

The vast majority of car accidents – approximately 94 percent – involve driver error. As such, most wrecks are entirely avoidable.

One of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of crashing is to avoid distracted driving. Here are the nine most common driver distractions:

Texting;
Calling or browsing the Internet on your phone;
Eating or drinking;
Talking to other passengers;
Grooming in the mirror;
Reading, including maps;
Using a navigation system;
Watching a video;
And adjusting an in-car entertainment system.

How to Avoid Distracted Driving Accidents

It’s no secret that the best way to avoid a distracted driving crash is to stay focused on the road. You should never use your cell phone, eat or drink, talk to passengers, groom or adjust the GPS while the vehicle is in motion.

You should also keep your distance from motorists who show these signs of distracted driving:

Stopping well before or after an intersection;
Abnormal braking or accelerating patterns;
Not signaling turns or lane changes;
Looking down;
Or swerving.

Were you hurt in an accident with a distracted driver? You may have grounds for a personal injury claim.

Contact a Detroit personal injury lawyer from Christopher Trainor & Associates to discuss your case. Our legal team will interview witnesses, evaluate the police report, gather evidence and help you fight for the maximum settlement. If your case goes to trial, we have the litigation experience to represent your interests in court.

Our firm has been helping the injured for more than 20 years. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1-800-961-8477 to schedule a free initial consultation.