Chicago Distracted Driving Car Accident Lawyers
With access to 21st-century technology, many drivers are tempted to talk on their cell phones or text while driving. Far too many drivers succumb to the temptation, creating risks for themselves, their passengers, and other motorists on the roadway. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving contributed to 3,208 traffic deaths nationwide in 2024.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is dangerous driving behavior that encompasses more than texting or talking on cell phones. Any activity that pulls the driver's attention away from the important task of operating a 3,000 lb. moving motor vehicle is a form of distracted driving. In addition to texting and talking on cell phones, driver distraction may involve:
- Manipulating any electronic device
- Grooming
- Eating
- Adjusting in-vehicle sound systems or radio
- Using the navigation system
- Talking to passengers
- Dealing with children in the vehicle
- Searching for an object in the car
- Watching a video
Text messaging is particularly alarming because it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver. The same could be said about adjusting any electronic device while operating a vehicle.
Illinois Distracted Driving Laws
Texting while driving is illegal in Illinois, along with the use of all hand-held devices. Hands-free technology (Bluetooth, headsets, speaker phones) is permitted, except while driving in school zones or construction zones, and is not allowed at all for novice drivers.
State anti-texting law applies to more than just cell phones. Drivers are prohibited from using any electronic communication device to compose, read, or send messages while operating a motor vehicle on a roadway. This includes personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones, tablets, notebooks, and all types of electronic devices.
Distracted Driving Facts
NHTSA is engaged in a public awareness campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of distracted driving. The agency provides facts and statistics about distracted driving to the general public, including:
- In 2024, distracted driving contributed to 3,208 traffic deaths nationwide, according to NHTSA.
- Drivers between the ages of 15 and 34 are overrepresented in distraction-affected fatal crashes compared to their overall share of fatal crash involvement.
- The percentage of drivers observed manipulating hand-held electronic devices while driving has more than doubled since 2015, rising from 2.2% to 4.5% by 2024.
- Distracted driving cost the country an estimated $98 billion in a single recent year in crash-related expenses, according to NHTSA's most recent economic cost analysis.
- When drivers engage in manual-visual subtasks associated with operating hand-held electronic devices, they significantly increase their risk of being involved in a traffic accident.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, your best course of action is to speak with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. At Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC, we have a successful track record recovering compensation for our clients who were injured through the negligence of others.
Contact our office to arrange a free case consultation with a Chicago car accident attorney. We can tell you if you have a case and what damages you may be entitled to claim.
