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Accidents with Distracted Drivers in Texas

Texting while driving is one of the single most dangerous things that a person can do.

In fact, multiple studies have found that a person who is texting while driving is 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident than a person who is paying attention to traffic. This statistic was again confirmed by recent research conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

A motorist who makes the choice to send or receive texts while driving is doing something incredibly dangerous. And this dangerous choice doesn’t affect just the texting driver.

Passengers in the car with the texting driver could get hurt, as could pedestrians, motorcyclists, bike riders and occupants of other vehicles.

When someone is injured as a result of someone’s choice to text and drive, the texter may be required under Texas law to pay for the damages he or she caused.

Texting-while-driving accidents can be complex, but the car accident lawyers at Roberts & Roberts are here to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Contact us at 903-597-6000 or 903-597-6000 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation.

Whether you need a car accident lawyer in Tyler or a car accident lawyer in Longview, we’re ready to help.

The Dangers of Texting While Driving 

The Texas Department of Transportation provides Texas crash data each year, and these data shed some light on just how dangerous texting can be.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reports that distracted driving contributed to almost one-sixth of all crashes in 2023, leading to 399 fatalities and 2,793 severe injuries.

Similarly, USAA’s SafePilot app revealed that, during the first half of 2023, Texas drivers were distracted by their phones for an average of 14% of their trips, surpassing the national average of 12.1%.

When text messages are sent or received behind the wheel, it is easy to see why an accident is so likely. The NHTSA provides statistics that indicate texting requires taking your eyes off the road for around 4.6 seconds on average — long enough to travel the length of a full football field at 55 mph.

With eyes off the road and less brain activity focused on paying attention and responding to the behavior of other drivers, a crash seems almost inevitable. 

Texas Laws on Texting While Driving

Nearly all 50 states enforce a ban on texting while driving. As of September 1, 2017, it is illegal for any driver in Texas to read, write, or send electronic messages while driving.

This law applies statewide and includes additional restrictions such as:

• Drivers under 18 cannot use wireless devices while they are driving.
• No driver may use a mobile or wireless device when they are in a school zone.
• School bus drivers cannot use their cell phones to text or talk when children are on the bus.

In addition, there are reckless-driving laws in Texas and all drivers have an obligation under the law to behave in a reasonably safe and prudent manner so they don’t put their fellow drivers at risk. The bottom line is that a texting driver can be held liable for causing an accident if they were driving while distracted.