In the bustling community of El Segundo, where Pacific Coast Highway meets the aerospace industry, distracted driving has become an increasingly concerning issue for residents and commuters alike. As vehicles navigate between the beach communities and the tech corridors that define our South Bay neighborhood, understanding what is distracted driving and its implications is crucial for everyone's safety.

What is Distracted Driving?

What is distracted driving? At its core, distracted driving occurs when a driver engages in any activity that diverts attention from the primary task of operating a vehicle safely. While cruising down Sepulveda Boulevard or navigating the traffic near Plaza El Segundo, even a momentary lapse in attention can lead to devastating consequences.

Distracted driving encompasses a wide range of behaviors, from the obvious to the subtle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) categorizes distractions into three main types:

1. Visual distractions: Taking your eyes off the road, such as looking at a GPS device or admiring the view of the Chevron refinery's lights at night
2. Manual distractions: Removing your hands from the steering wheel, like reaching for a coffee cup while passing El Segundo High School
3. Cognitive distractions: Letting your mind wander from the task of driving, perhaps thinking about work at the aerospace companies along Aviation Boulevard instead of focusing on the road

What is distracted driving if not a combination of these factors? Often, the most dangerous distractions involve multiple categories simultaneously. For example, texting while driving combines all three types of distraction, making it particularly hazardous on busy thoroughfares like Main Street or Imperial Highway.

Common Forms of Distracted Driving in El Segundo

Cell Phone Use

Perhaps the most notorious form of distracted driving involves cell phone use. Whether typing coordinates to reach The Point shopping center or scrolling through social media while idling near LAX, cell phone use dramatically increases accident risk. California's hands-free laws exist specifically to combat this danger, prohibiting handheld cell phone use while driving.

Eating and Drinking

The morning commute through El Segundo often involves grabbing breakfast on the go. That coffee from Blue Butterfly Coffee Co. or breakfast burrito from Good Stuff may seem harmless enough, but eating requires taking at least one hand off the wheel and diverts attention from surrounding traffic conditions.

Passenger Interactions

Conversations with passengers, particularly animated discussions or disputes, can be a significant source of distraction. Whether you're driving visitors to show them the Automobile Driving Museum or carpooling with colleagues to Raytheon, intense interactions with passengers can pull your focus from the road.

In-Vehicle Technology

Modern vehicles come equipped with increasingly sophisticated technology. Adjusting the navigation system to find El Segundo Beach or changing settings on your dashboard display near the Hyperion Treatment Plant requires attention that should be directed toward driving.

External Distractions

The South Bay offers beautiful views and interesting sights. Rubbernecking at accidents on Vista Del Mar or gazing at planes landing at LAX constitutes a form of distracted driving that claims many victims yearly.

Who is Most at Risk for Distracted Driving?

Understanding what is distracted driving requires recognizing that certain groups face higher risks on El Segundo's busy streets, from Pacific Coast Highway to the congested areas near Plaza El Segundo.

• Teen Drivers: Inexperienced drivers aged 16-19 have the highest rates of distraction-related crashes, often while navigating busy intersections near El Segundo High School or The Point shopping center.
• Young Adults: Drivers aged 20-29 frequently engage with smartphones while driving past LAX or along Imperial Highway, making them three times more likely to be involved in distraction-related collisions.
• Commuters: Those making daily drives to aerospace companies along Aviation Boulevard often multitask during long commutes, increasing their likelihood of missing critical road events.
• Delivery Drivers: The pressure to meet deadlines while navigating unfamiliar routes through Smoky Hollow's industrial area leads many delivery professionals to check GPS devices frequently while driving.
• Parents with Young Children: Attending to children's needs while driving near Recreation Park or El Segundo Plaza diverts crucial attention from the road, creating dangerous situations.
• Tech-Dependent Professionals: Workers constantly connected to digital devices for work often struggle to disconnect even while navigating through the business district or along Sepulveda Boulevard.
• Commercial Drivers: The monotony of long hours behind the wheel makes truck drivers passing through El Segundo on the 105 Freeway susceptible to various forms of distraction.
• Rideshare Drivers: The need to monitor ride requests, navigate to pickup locations near The Edge community workspace, and interact with passengers creates multiple distraction points.
• Tourists: Visitors unfamiliar with local roads near Dockweiler Beach or around the Automobile Driving Museum frequently consult navigation apps while driving, increasing accident risk.
• Multitaskers: Those who regularly perform multiple activities while driving, such as eating breakfast from Blue Butterfly Coffee Co. during the morning commute, normalize risky behavior patterns.

At Bloom Injury Law, we represent victims injured by distracted drivers from all these high-risk groups. If you've been hurt by someone engaging in what is distracted driving, a distracted driving accident lawyer from our firm can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

What Kinds of Accidents Are Caused by Distracted Driving?

At Bloom Injury Law, we've seen firsthand how what is distracted driving leads to various collision types on El Segundo's roads, from Main Street to the bustling areas surrounding LAX.

• Rear-end Collisions: The most common distracted driving accident occurs when drivers looking at phones or dashboard controls fail to notice stopped traffic ahead near intersections like Sepulveda and Rosecrans Avenue.
• T-bone Crashes: Distracted drivers often run red lights or stop signs while navigating through El Segundo Plaza or approaching The Point shopping center, resulting in devastating side-impact collisions.
• Lane Departure Accidents: When attention drifts while driving along Pacific Coast Highway or past the Chevron refinery, vehicles frequently cross centerlines or drift into neighboring lanes causing sideswipe collisions.
• Pedestrian Impacts: Distracted drivers navigating near Recreation Park or El Segundo High School fail to notice pedestrians in crosswalks, resulting in potentially fatal injuries to local residents.
• Cyclist Collisions: Drivers checking texts while passing The Lakes at El Segundo golf course often miss seeing cyclists sharing the road, leading to serious injuries due to the lack of protection for bike riders.
• Fixed Object Crashes: Distracted motorists frequently collide with parked cars, utility poles, or buildings along Main Street when their attention shifts away from the driving task.
• Intersection Accidents: Complex interactions at busy junctions near the Hyperion Treatment Plant or Aviation Boulevard become dangerous when drivers prioritize distractions over road awareness.
• Multi-vehicle Pileups: A single distracted driver on the 105 Freeway can trigger chain-reaction crashes involving numerous vehicles during busy commuting periods.
• Work Zone Collisions: Construction areas throughout Smoky Hollow's industrial section become particularly hazardous when drivers fail to notice changed traffic patterns while distracted.
• Rollover Accidents: Sudden, panic reactions when a distracted driver finally notices a hazard near Vista Del Mar can lead to dangerous overcorrection and vehicle rollovers.

If you've been injured in any of these accident types due to another driver's distraction, a distracted driving accident lawyer from Bloom Injury Law can help determine liability and secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.

The Statistics Behind Distracted Driving

At Bloom Injury Law, we understand what is distracted driving and its devastating impact on El Segundo's roads, from Pacific Coast Highway to the busy intersections near LAX.

• National Fatality Rates: In 2022, 3,308 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers nationwide, representing 7.8% of all traffic fatalities that year.
• Injury Statistics: An estimated 289,310 people were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2022, demonstrating the widespread impact beyond fatalities.
• Recent Trends: Distraction-affected fatal crashes have decreased about 6% from 2021 to 2022, but have still increased 4% since 2013, showing a concerning long-term pattern.
• Vulnerable Road Users: In 2022, 621 pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-occupants were killed in distraction-affected crashes, highlighting the danger to those walking near The Point shopping center or cycling along Dockweiler Beach.
• Cell Phone Involvement: The percentage of fatal distraction-affected crashes involving cell phone use in 2022 was 12.1%, underscoring the danger of device use while navigating El Segundo Boulevard.
• Age Demographics: About 20% of distracted drivers were between the ages of 15 and 24, including many young drivers passing through El Segundo High School areas.
• Gender Disparities: Men are nearly three times more likely to be involved in fatal distracted driving accidents compared to women, with male drivers distracted in 2,201 fatal crashes in 2022 versus 844 for female drivers.
• Teen Driver Risk: In 2022, approximately 2,109 drivers aged 15 to 20 were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, representing a significant increase from the previous year.
• Daily Impact: Every day, approximately eight fatalities in the United States are linked to crashes involving a distracted driver, a sobering reminder of the daily toll on communities like ours.
• Teen Behavior: 42% of high school students across the United States admitted to texting or emailing while driving, a concerning statistic for parents of teenage drivers in El Segundo.

If you've been injured due to what is distracted driving on our local roads, a distracted driving accident lawyer from Bloom Injury Law can help determine liability and secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries, medical expenses, and other damages.

Consequences of Driving Distracted

At Bloom Injury Law in El Segundo, we see the devastating aftermath of what is distracted driving on local roads like Pacific Coast Highway and Sepulveda Boulevard every day.

• Legal Penalties: California imposes fines starting at $20 for first offenses but can exceed $150 with assessments, increasing substantially for repeat offenders traveling through El Segundo.
• License Points: Distracted driving violations add points to your DMV record, potentially leading to suspension and significantly higher insurance premiums for local residents.
• Civil Liability: When you cause an accident while checking texts near LAX or The Point shopping center, you become financially responsible for all resulting damages and injuries.
• Criminal Charges: Serious distracted driving incidents near Dockweiler Beach can result in criminal charges ranging from reckless driving to vehicular manslaughter, especially when catastrophic injuries occur.
• Insurance Consequences: Following a distracted driving citation on El Segundo Boulevard, expect your insurance rates to increase by 20-30% for several years.
• Physical Injuries: Victims often suffer whiplash, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal damage requiring extensive treatment at South Bay medical facilities.
• Emotional Trauma: Beyond physical harm, accidents caused by distracted driving frequently result in anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress that persist long after visible injuries heal.
• Financial Burden: Medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and property damage create overwhelming financial strain, especially when injuries prevent returning to work at local aerospace companies.
• Career Impact: A distracted driving accident lawyer often sees cases where commercial drivers lose their livelihood after distracted driving incidents near the Imperial Highway corridor.
• Permanent Disability: Severe crashes caused by distracted driving while passing Recreation Park can result in lifelong disabilities requiring ongoing care and home modifications.

If you've been affected by what is distracted driving on El Segundo's streets, contact Bloom Injury Law immediately to understand your rights and the compensation you deserve for these life-altering consequences.

How To Prevent Distracted Driving

At Bloom Injury Law, we believe understanding what is distracted driving and implementing preventative measures is crucial for everyone traveling on roads and highways.

• Silence Your Phone: Put your device on silent mode or activate driving mode before starting your journey to eliminate notification temptations.
• Plan Ahead: Program your GPS navigation before putting your vehicle in motion, eliminating the need to adjust settings while driving.
• Secure Loose Items: Properly stow belongings that might roll around and distract you while navigating the road.
• Adjust Controls Before Departing: Set climate controls, seat positions, and mirrors while parked rather than making adjustments on busy highways.
• Eat Before Driving: Finish your meals before getting behind the wheel to avoid the manual distraction of handling food.
• Manage Passenger Interactions: Politely ask passengers to help with navigation or to continue intense conversations after arriving at your destination.
• Pull Over When Necessary: If something demands your immediate attention, safely pull over rather than attempting to multitask.
• Use Hands-Free Technology Wisely: Even though hands-free systems are legal, limit complex interactions with voice commands when driving.
• Avoid Emotional Conversations: Postpone stressful or emotional phone calls until you've reached your destination.
• Prepare Children and Pets: Ensure children have what they need and pets are secured before departing to minimize distractions during the drive.

If you've been injured by someone engaging in what is distracted driving, contact Bloom Injury Law to speak with a distracted driving accident lawyer who can help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Injuries Associated with Distracted Driving Accidents

At Bloom Injury Law, we've witnessed firsthand the devastating physical consequences that occur when what is distracted driving leads to collisions on our roads and highways.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: From mild concussions to severe trauma, brain injuries can result when distracted drivers cause high-speed collisions or when victims' heads strike the vehicle interior during impact.
• Spinal Cord Damage: Distracted driving accidents frequently cause vertebral fractures, herniated discs, or complete spinal cord injuries that may lead to partial or total paralysis requiring lifelong care.
• Whiplash: One of the most common injuries in rear-end collisions caused by distracted drivers, this neck trauma occurs when the head is violently thrown forward and backward during impact.
• Broken Bones: The force of impact in distracted driving crashes often results in fractures to the arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, or facial bones that may require surgical intervention and extended rehabilitation.
• Internal Bleeding: High-impact collisions caused by a driver texting or using in-vehicle technology can damage vital organs and blood vessels, creating life-threatening internal hemorrhaging that requires immediate surgical intervention.
• Facial Injuries: When airbags deploy or victims strike the dashboard or windshield, lacerations, dental trauma, and facial fractures often occur, potentially requiring reconstructive surgery and causing permanent disfigurement.
• Psychological Trauma: Beyond physical harm, many victims of distracted driving accidents develop anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and driving phobias that require extensive therapy.
• Burn Injuries: Serious crashes caused by what is distracted driving may lead to vehicle fires or contact with hot vehicle components, resulting in painful burns that require specialized treatment and often leave permanent scarring.
• Soft Tissue Damage: Muscles, tendons, and ligaments are frequently torn or strained in distracted driving collisions, causing chronic pain, limited mobility, and extended recovery periods.
• Fatal Injuries: Nine people in the United States are killed every day in crashes reported to involve a distracted driver, with approximately 3,100 deaths annually. CDC

If you or a loved one has suffered these or other injuries due to someone else's distracted driving, contact a distracted driving accident lawyer at Bloom Injury Law immediately to discuss your right to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

What To Do If Injured By a Distracted Driver in El Segundo

At Bloom Injury Law, we understand that knowing what to do after being injured by what is distracted driving can make a critical difference in your recovery and legal claim, especially on busy thoroughfares like Pacific Coast Highway or near The Point shopping center.

• Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Even if injuries seem minor, visit Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center or any nearby urgent care to document all injuries, as some symptoms may not appear until days after the collision.
• Contact Law Enforcement: Report the accident to the El Segundo Police Department and ensure they document the other driver's distracted behavior, whether texting near LAX or adjusting vehicle controls while passing Chevron refinery.
• Gather Evidence at the Scene: Take photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, and surrounding landmarks like The Lakes at El Segundo golf course or El Segundo High School to establish the exact location and conditions.
• Identify Witnesses: Collect contact information from anyone who saw the accident, especially those who may have noticed the driver looking at their phone or engaging in other distractions while traveling on Sepulveda Boulevard.
• Document Distracted Behavior: Note specific details about how the driver was distracted, whether eating food from Blue Butterfly Coffee Co. or programming GPS directions to Dockweiler Beach.
• Avoid Discussing Fault: Never admit responsibility or make statements about your injuries to insurance adjusters who call before you've consulted a distracted driving accident lawyer.
• Preserve Electronic Evidence: Request preservation of the other driver's cell phone records, especially if they were using their device while driving through the aerospace corridor or near Plaza El Segundo.
• Track All Expenses: Keep detailed records of medical bills, lost wages from missing work at local employers like Mattel or Raytheon, and any other accident-related costs.
• Follow Medical Advice: Adhere strictly to treatment plans from your healthcare providers and attend all follow-up appointments to demonstrate the seriousness of your injuries.
• Contact Bloom Injury Law: Speak with our team as soon as possible after your accident on Main Street or Imperial Highway to ensure we can begin investigating your case while evidence is fresh.

If you've been injured because of what is distracted driving in El Segundo, don't face the aftermath alone. A distracted driving accident lawyer from Bloom Injury Law can help you navigate the complex legal process while you focus on healing from your injuries.

The Role of a Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

When prevention fails and accidents occur, having knowledgeable legal representation becomes essential. A distracted driving accident lawyer familiar with El Segundo's unique traffic patterns and local ordinances can:

• Investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident
• Identify sources of evidence specific to distraction-related claims
• Navigate the complex insurance landscape
• Advocate for fair compensation reflecting the full impact of injuries
• Represent clients' interests against powerful insurance companies

At Bloom Injury Law, we understand the devastating effects that a moment's distraction on Imperial Highway or Vista Del Mar can have on victims and their families. Our approach combines thorough knowledge of distracted driving laws with deep familiarity with our El Segundo community.

Don't Let Distracted Driving Change Your Life

If you've been injured because of what is distracted driving, you deserve skilled legal representation. At Bloom Injury Law, we have the knowledge and experience to help you pursue the compensation you need while you focus on healing. Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how we can help you move forward after a distracted driving accident.