Encountering a distracted driver on the road is an incredibly common occurrence. In fact, many of us have even lost focus behind the wheel ourselves. While glancing away for a few seconds might not seem like much, it compromises your ability to respond to hazards in your path. This is why distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of vehicle accidents in the United States. If you come across these individuals in traffic near you, you must know how to react. Learn how to respond to a distracted driver and keep yourself safe.

Keep Your Distance

You should do your best to create distance between yourself and the distracted driver. Since they won’t be able to see you until it’s too late, moving back a little bit will allow you to better respond to them. This means that even if they start driving erratically, you’ll still be in the best position to avoid them. If they happen to be behind you, try changing lanes and slowing down so they can pass you.

Maneuver Into the Right Lane

You can also try positioning your vehicle in the rightmost lane if you’re dealing with a distracted driver. The right lane is traditionally where the slowest-moving traffic sits, and this makes it easier to get out of the other party’s way and allow them to pass you. The right lane also provides you with easy access to an exit if you still feel unsafe.

Contact the Authorities

Another way to respond to a distracted driver on the road is to call the local authorities. Distracted driving poses a serious threat to you and everyone around at the same time. Because of this, police should know of the potential hazard. Once notified, officers will pull over the individual, and, hopefully, make them aware that they were driving dangerously.

Reach Out to a Legal Professional

If you find yourself in an accident with a distracted driver, you should know who to call. Due to the nature of these collisions, it’s common for both parties to sustain serious injuries, such as broken bones or head trauma. You want to know that you have a professional on your side to ask for advice. Distracted driving injury lawyers can collect evidence that the other party was negligent so you can get the compensation you need to recover.