Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer: Find One (Apr 2025)

Distracted Driving: A Serious Threat to Public Safety

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately nine people per day are killed in accidents involving distracted drivers. However, the actual number of deaths is likely much greater than that.

This statistic solely includes accidents where driver distraction was part of the report filed. In many cases, a driver who causes an accident will not freely admit that they weren’t paying proper attention because they were texting or daydreaming. Similarly, texting and driving statistics likely represent only a small fraction of the actual problem.

Texting and other kinds of phone use are major contributors to distracted driving. To help keep drivers safer, most states have laws like these that restrict the use of mobile phones while driving:

• Texting while driving is banned in 49 states and Washington, D.C.
• Teen or novice drivers may not use phones while driving in 36 states and Washington, D.C.
• Drivers may not use handheld cell phones while driving in 29 states and Washington, D.C.

While these laws have likely made roadways safer, distracted driving is still common. Many drivers disobey the rules — and not all distracted driving involves cell phones.

Types of Distracted Driving

When they’re on the road, drivers are responsible for paying attention and taking reasonable precautions to keep others (and themselves) safe. However, even well-intentioned drivers can become distracted behind the wheel. There are four main categories of distractions:

Visual

Taking your eyes off the road for even a second can be dangerous. These are some types of visual distractions you might experience while driving:

• Looking at a text message
• Looking at your GPS
• Looking at an interesting billboard or something else outside of the car
• Turning to look at a passenger or something else inside the car

The faster a vehicle is going, the more dangerous visual distractions become.

Manual

Manual distractions, such as the following, involve taking one or both hands off the steering wheel:

• Texting
• Reaching for something that fell on the floor
• Adjusting air conditioning or radio knobs
• Eating

Some manual distractions (like adjusting the heat or AC) may be necessary, but it’s safest to keep them to a minimum.

Auditory

Certain sounds may make it harder for you to focus on the road. Auditory distractions can include the following:

• Loud music in the car
• Conversations with passengers
• Phone conversations
• Alert sounds from cell phones
• Screaming children or rowdy passengers

You may not always be able to control auditory distractions, but being aware of them and making an effort to focus can be helpful.

Cognitive

Some distractions can come from your own mind. Being preoccupied, daydreaming or even dealing with strong emotions can all get in the way of your ability to drive safely.

What to Do After a Distracted Driving Accident

If you’ve just been involved in a car accident, it can be difficult to think clearly. However, if you’re able to do so, following these steps can protect your health and increase your likelihood of a successful claim:

• Get to a safe area.
• Call 911.
• Document the scene with photos and videos.
• Ask for contact information for potential witnesses.
• Seek immediate medical care.
• Consult an attorney before talking to an insurance company.

Seeking prompt medical care is of paramount importance. Once you are medically stable, contact a texting and driving accident lawyer to set up a consultation.

Why You Need a Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been hurt in a distracted driving accident, your friends and family might be telling you to get a lawyer. However, if you’re like many people, you may be wondering if you can save some money by handling your case yourself.

Technically, you can study how to settle a car accident claim without a lawyer and attempt to navigate the claims process alone. However, you will almost always be able to recover more compensation by working with a lawyer than you could by yourself — even when you take attorneys’ fees into account.

A distracted driving lawyer will be able to assess your case and determine how much compensation you can realistically expect to recover. From there, they can start working toward securing that compensation.

How an Attorney Can Help

Distracted driving accident lawyers cannot take on every case they see. However, almost all offer free consultations. In these meetings, an attorney will discuss your situation and help you determine whether you’re a good candidate for a distracted driving lawsuit. If the lawyer does take your case, they can help in the following ways:

Investigating Your Accident

Texting and driving accident law firms have extensive experience investigating distracted driving cases. Your lawyer can gather evidence showing the other driver’s negligence. These are some of the most common types of evidence in distracted driving cases:

• Physical evidence (like food in the car if the driver was distracted by eating)
• Phone records that show the driver was texting
• Traffic camera or dashcam footage of the accident
• Eyewitness accounts
• Your medical bills and medical records
• Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
• The police report for your accident

It often takes time for car accident attorneys to put together a strong case. To make sure the statute of limitations doesn’t run out, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.

Calculating Your Damages

Personal injury lawyers work with cases like yours on a daily basis. Your attorney can assess your case and determine how much compensation you could realistically recover.

Attempting to Negotiate a Settlement

Once they have assembled a case, your lawyer will attempt to negotiate a car accident settlement for you. Settling saves you the time, expense and uncertainty of going to court, so it’s often the best way for both sides to resolve a claim.

Taking Your Case to Court If Needed

In any car accident lawsuit, your case is much more likely to settle than go to court. However, if both sides can’t agree on an amount, your lawyer can represent you at trial.

How Long Does a Distracted Driving Lawsuit Take?

There are several factors impacting how long your distracted driving lawsuit may take. First, you should consider the statute of limitations. This is a time limit for filing a claim or lawsuit. The exact statute of limitations will vary depending on where you live, but in most states, it’s about 2-3 years from the date of the accident.

However, once your case is underway, the length of time it takes to resolve depends on a number of different things. If your attorney is able to reach a personal injury settlement agreement with the other side, your case will be resolved much more quickly than if it must be decided in court.

Generally speaking, cases that are relatively straightforward and involve minor injuries may be resolved within several months. Complex cases involving serious accidents — especially those that must be decided in court — may take years.

Get Connected to a Distracted Driving Attorney Today

If you’ve been hurt in an accident with a distracted driver, don’t just search for “distracted driving accidents lawyer near me” and pick the first firm you see. The right lawyer can make a tremendous difference when it comes to securing fair compensation.

At ConsumerShield, we’re in the business of helping people like you connect with experienced attorneys. Not sure how to make a selection? No problem — fill out our form below for a free case review, and we’ll connect you with experienced distracted driving attorneys in your area.