Taylorsville Texting and Driving Accident Attorney

There are many traffic regulations in Utah that govern the safe driving of all individuals. Though most people understand and follow major regulations, other laws – such as texting and distracted driving laws – are not taken as seriously. Regardless of how much a person knows about the dangers of such activities, thousands of people decide to engage in activities that take their eyes of the road, such as adjusting the radio, eating while driving, or texting while driving. Though some of these actions are simply bad decisions, the law explicitly prohibits others. For example, Utah’s distracted driving laws address the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.

Proceeding With a Personal Injury Claim

Without personal or eye witness accounts of a driver’s cellphone use, you may have trouble arguing his or her failure to focus on the road caused the accident. Moreover, obtaining phone records and using that information to show a driver was distracted is a long process. For these reasons, the devotion of an attentive legal team is essential in texting and driving accidents in Utah. A dedicated personal Injury lawyer will go over any claim you would like to review regarding a negligent driver. Contact our car accident lawyers today to get started.

The Hazard of Distracted Driving

Using a cellphone to send a text message, check email, or log on to social media while driving is incredibly negligent and puts the lives of all nearby drivers and pedestrians at risk. The Federal Communications Commission reports that eight people are killed and 1,161 injured every day in distracted driving accidents in the United States. The Commission also reports that accidents involving distracted drivers accounted for 391,000 injuries in 2015.

This is an astounding number of deaths and incidents due to this negligent activity, but there are currently no national laws regulating the use of cellphones while driving. However, several states have established regulations that prohibit the use of phones while driving under specific circumstances. Utah is one such state.

Utah’s Texting While Driving Laws

Drivers in Utah are not allowed to text while driving. This applies to all drivers regardless of age. The statutes only consider cellphone use a secondary offense. This means that you can’t be stopped for making a phone call while driving. However, the law still considers this careless driving. As such, drivers who engage in this activity may face increased liability for failing to devote their full attention to the road.

Respond to an Accident Involving a Distracted Driver

If you are involved in an accident with a distracted driver, you may not see them actively texting or talking on a phone while driving. If you do, make sure to share this information with the police when you call to report the collision. You may also note other behaviors suggesting that the person was driving negligently, such as following too closely, swerving, or maintaining an inconsistent speed.

Eye witness accounts may also play a vital role here, as someone who witnessed the event may attest as to whether the driver was using a cellphone while driving. Collect the names and phone numbers of eye witnesses and record as much information as possible about the collision to strengthen your case moving forward.