Overcorrection following Distracted Driver Inattention a Major Cause of Car and Truck Accidents
It should come as no surprise that distracted driving is a leading cause of car and truck accidents. What is surprising, however, is the reason. A distracted driver has a tendency to overcorrect, once his or her attention reverts back to the roadway, and to engage in what is called an ‘accident avoidance maneuver.’ In other words, the shock of surprise leads to overreaction—and danger.
Overcorrecting to avoid an accident is one of the deadliest driving mistakes a driver can make. It is what typically occurs when a driver’s vehicle hits gravel or ice, or when the driver’s attention is diverted by talking on a cell phone or changing a radio station. Not surprisingly, overcorrection is linked to drowsiness as well as distractedness. Indeed, over 5 percent of all automobile fatalities that occur each year are due to overcorrection by drivers who are either drowsy or distracted.
Overcorrection is particularly deadly when it involves vehicles like SUVs, that have a high center of gravity. Such vehicles, being top-heavy and unstable, are especially vulnerable to overcorrection, because sudden accident avoidance maneuvers can cause them to roll over. Thus, an SUV driver who makes a sudden steering change, after realizing that he or she is drifting out of the lane, can cause the vehicle to veer off the highway, roll over, and possibly crush the roof or cause a passenger to be ejected.
Many cars and SUVs contain defective design elements and components that can contribute to rollover accidents caused by overcorrection. Thus, when this type of accident occurs, there may be more to the case than meets the eye of the untrained observer. For this reason, it is imperative to preserve evidence immediately, for inspection by a skilled accident reconstruction expert— and a skilled car accident and product liability with a track record of success prosecuting automotive and tire defect product liability claims.
