In our previous post we wrote about distracted driving in which the use of a cellphone provides the distraction. This is of course not the only way in which a driver in the Pittsburgh area can be distracted. Eating and playing with the radio can be a distraction and lead to a car accident. As it turns out, so too can the actions of your passengers. This is particularly true when the passengers are young children.

It can be difficult for youngsters who, for safety purposes, are forced to be restrained in a vehicle to stay calm. While safety belts keep those kids from climbing around the backseat as previous generations did, they can still be loud and boisterous, making it difficult for the person operating the vehicle to concentrate on the road and surrounding traffic.

A study recently conducted by researcher in Australia, determined that for all of the attention cellphone distraction provides, children are actually more distracting–12 times more distracting than using cellphones. The study determined that in an average 16 minute car ride, parents are not watching the road for a total of over three minutes.

As is the case in situations where cellphone use is to blame for distracted driving, the issue is that car accidents can occur when a driver is not paying attention to his or her surroundings. While these crashes don't always result in injuries, when they do, they can be serious, in the worst cases, even leading to death.

When someone is hurt in a car accident that is due to distracted driving on the part of another, it is possible the injured party can recover monetary damages. This may be accomplished via a personal injury lawsuit.

Source: ABC News, "One of the Worst Driving Distractions on the Road: Your kids," Paula Faris, March 19, 2013