Illinois Personal Injury Attorneys Advocate for Those Injured by Distracted Drivers

Prospects Heights, IL Accident Law Firm Handles Auto Accident Cases

When drivers become distracted by a non-driving task (like texting or sending an email), they often fail to see unexpected objects and events in full view, such as a pedestrian or another car directly in their path. This phenomenon is known as inattention blindness.

Research has found that those using cell phones while driving often do not see something directly in front of them because they are operating on lower working memory capacity, or the ability to focus attention when and where it is needed, on more than one thing at a time.

Ignoring the Obvious Can be Deadly

Although some drivers think they can focus their attention on the road while distracted, a very small percentage can drive and talk on a cell phone without some level of impairment. Inattention blindness renders a driver incapable of seeing something that is right in front of them, such as a red light or a child on a bicycle, because they are still focused on the last text message they sent, even up to 15 seconds earlier.

Even if you have 20/20 vision, you have likely experienced inattention blindness at one time or another. We’re all continually being bombarded with large amounts of sensory information and there is no way we can process it all, so we focus on selective details, and filter everything else out – sometimes oncoming traffic, a stalled car, or a pedestrian crossing the street in plain sight.

Contact an Experienced Prospects Heights, IL Auto Accident Law Firm Today

If you were involved in a crash with a distracted driver in Illinois, you need experienced legal representation. Contact the attorneys at Kelly Law Offices online or call 1-800-859-8800 to discuss your case today. Initial consultations are always free.