The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has completed numerous different studies identifying the potential impact of distracted driving accidents. Many people across numerous different age categories recognize that distracted driving is a dangerous behavior but it is one they still participate in regularly. Anyone can get distracted behind the wheel, but certain types of people may be more likely to do so than others.

Moreover, plenty of research has explored longer periods of unfocused attention, such as several seconds or a minute. But what about brief distraction events? It turns out that even brief distraction can be catastrophic.

A Norwegian study, for example, found that young men were the ones most likely to report distraction associated with their phones as well as flipping through the radio dial or talking to others in the car. The NHTSA study found that just two seconds of attention to the blinking or beeping of a mobile phone or changing the radio station can account for up to 12% of car accidents around the globe and 14% of them directly in the United States.

Even one or two seconds of lost attention from the road ahead of you or cognitively pulling your mind away could lead to a devastating accident. Remaining focused at all times is the only way to avoid the potential dangers of distraction. If you’ve already been hurt in a critical accident that you believe was caused by someone else’s inattention or reckless behavior, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim with the help of a knowledgeable attorney. Schedule a consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in San Diego immediately.