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Distracted driving is one of the most preventable causes of serious crashes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and it continues to devastate families across Denton County every year. Whether you were rear-ended on I-35E near the University of North Texas campus or hit at a busy intersection on Loop 288, a distracted driver may have changed your life in a matter of seconds. At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, we represent crash victims in Denton, Dallas, and throughout North Texas. If a distracted driver hurt you, you deserve to know your rights and your options. As abogados de daños personales based right here in Denton, we are ready to fight for the compensation you need to move forward.

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How Serious Is the Distracted Driving Problem in Texas?

The numbers tell a sobering story. In 2025, distracted driving was responsible for 86,384 crashes on Texas roads, leaving more than 2,437 people seriously injured and 299 dead. Those are not just statistics. They represent real people who were commuting to work, picking up their kids from school, or simply running errands when someone else chose to look away from the road.

According to TxDOT, in 2024 alone, nearly one in five crashes on Texas roads were caused by a distracted driver, resulting in 373 fatalities and more than 2,500 serious injuries. Think about that. One in five crashes. That means if you drive the Dallas North Tollway or US-75 through the Metroplex on any given day, a significant share of the drivers around you are not fully focused on the road.

The problem extends far beyond phone use. Distracted driving is any activity that takes attention away from the road while driving, including texting, talking or glancing at a cell phone, eating and drinking, programming a navigation system, adjusting the radio or temperature, and reaching for something in the back seat. Any one of those behaviors can cause a crash. Any one of them can make a driver legally liable for the harm they cause. If you were hit by a driver who was eating, scrolling social media, or fiddling with their GPS, that driver’s negligence is the issue, and our team can help you prove it.

Nationally, the picture is just as grim. According to NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 3,275 people were killed in distraction-affected crashes in 2023, representing approximately 8% of all traffic fatalities. Texas carries a disproportionate share of that burden. If you were injured in a distracted driving crash near Denton’s Rayzor Ranch area or anywhere else in North Texas, you have the right to pursue full compensation from the at-fault driver.

Texas Law on Distracted Driving: What the Statutes Say

Texas has clear laws that make distracted driving illegal, and those laws matter directly to your personal injury claim. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 545.4251, an operator commits an offense if the operator uses a portable wireless communication device to read, write, or send an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped. This law covers texting, emailing, instant messaging, and posting to social media while moving. The ban is statewide and applies on every road in Denton County, from Highway 380 to I-35E.

The penalties for violating this law escalate with the severity of the conduct. A first offense is punishable by a fine of at least $25 and not more than $99, but if the defendant caused the death or serious bodily injury of another person, the offense becomes a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000 and confinement in jail for up to one year. That criminal penalty is separate from the civil liability the driver faces in your personal injury case.

The 2017 state law makes it illegal for drivers to read, write, or send a text while driving, with offenders facing fines of up to $200, yet many continue to ignore the law and put themselves and others in danger. When a driver breaks this law and causes a crash, that violation is powerful evidence of negligence. Texas courts allow injury victims to use a driver’s statutory violation as proof that the driver failed to meet the standard of care owed to others on the road.

Beyond texting, Texas Transportation Code Section 545.401 addresses reckless driving more broadly, covering any behavior that shows willful disregard for the safety of others. A driver who is eating, watching videos, or grooming while behind the wheel can also be held liable for negligence even without a specific citation. Our abogado de accidentes de coche team knows how to build the evidence needed to connect a driver’s distracted behavior to the injuries our clients suffered.

Common Types of Distracted Driving Accidents in the Dallas and Denton Area

Distracted driving crashes happen in many ways, but some patterns appear again and again on North Texas roads. Rear-end collisions are among the most common. A driver who looks down at a phone for even a few seconds can fail to notice slowing traffic ahead, slamming into the vehicle in front at full speed. If you have been in a rear-end crash on I-35E near the Denton County Courthouse or on Loop 288 near the Golden Triangle Mall, a distracted driver is often the cause.

Intersection crashes are another frequent result of distracted driving. A driver scrolling through messages may run a red light or fail to yield, causing a T-bone collision that sends vehicles spinning. Denton’s busy intersections at University Drive and Loop 288, or at Teasley Lane and I-35E, see these types of crashes regularly. Side-impact collisions often produce severe injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injuries, because the door panel offers far less protection than the front or rear of a vehicle.

Head-on collisions can also result from distracted driving when a driver drifts across the center line. Highway crashes on US-380 between Denton and McKinney, or on I-35E heading into Dallas, become catastrophic when a driver crosses into oncoming traffic. Sideswipe accidents occur when a driver changes lanes without looking, often because their eyes were on a screen instead of their mirrors. Each of these crash types carries its own set of injuries and legal challenges, and our abogado de accidentes de coche team has experience handling all of them throughout the Dallas-Denton corridor.

Pedestrian and bicycle accidents caused by distracted drivers are also tragically common near the University of North Texas campus and the Denton Square area. A driver who is not watching the road may fail to see a cyclist on Oak Street or a pedestrian crossing at Hickory Street. If you were struck as a pedestrian or cyclist by a distracted driver, Texas law gives you the same right to compensation as any other crash victim.

How to Prove a Distracted Driving Claim in Texas

Proving that the other driver was distracted at the time of the crash is the central challenge in these cases. Insurance companies rarely accept a driver’s admission of guilt, and the at-fault driver may deny any wrongdoing. That is why evidence gathering begins immediately after a crash, and why having an attorney in your corner from the start makes a real difference.

Phone records are often the most powerful piece of evidence in a distracted driving case. A subpoena can compel a wireless carrier to produce call logs and text message timestamps showing exactly when a driver was using their device. If those records show activity at the moment of impact, it is strong proof of distraction. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras near the Denton County Justice Center, or dashcam video can also capture the driver’s behavior in the seconds before a crash.

Witness statements matter too. Other drivers, passengers, and bystanders who saw the at-fault driver looking at a phone or behaving erratically can provide testimony that supports your claim. The police report filed after the crash may also note officer observations about distraction. Texas uses a modified comparative fault system, meaning that if you are found partially at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, and you cannot recover at all if you are more than 50% responsible. That makes it critical to establish clearly that the other driver’s distraction caused the crash.

Our team works with accident reconstruction experts, obtains preservation letters to secure electronic data before it is deleted, and reviews all available footage to build the strongest possible case. If you were injured near Lake Lewisville, in Denton, or anywhere in the Dallas area, our abogado de accidentes de coche team is prepared to investigate thoroughly on your behalf.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Distracted Driving Crash?

Texas law allows injury victims to pursue compensation for every loss connected to the crash. That includes your medical bills, both current and future. A serious crash can leave you with mounting hospital bills, surgery costs, physical therapy expenses, and the cost of assistive devices or home modifications. You should not have to pay those out of your own pocket because someone else chose to look at their phone.

Lost wages are another major category of damages. If your injuries kept you from working, or if your ability to earn a living has been permanently reduced, you can seek compensation for that financial harm. Pain and suffering damages cover the physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and reduced quality of life that follow a serious crash. Texas also allows recovery for property damage to your vehicle and, in the most tragic cases, wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one.

In some distracted driving cases, punitive damages may be available. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 41.003 allows exemplary damages when the defendant’s conduct was grossly negligent, meaning they were aware of an extreme risk and proceeded anyway. A driver who was watching a video at highway speed or who had been warned by passengers to put their phone down may meet that standard. These damages are not available in every case, and past results in other matters do not guarantee any particular outcome in your case.

The value of your case depends on the specific facts, the severity of your injuries, and how clearly liability can be established. Our abogado de accidentes de coche team offers free consultations so you can understand what your claim may be worth before making any decisions. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Why Choose Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys for Your Distracted Driving Case?

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is a Denton-based personal injury law firm that represents crash victims throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Dallas, Lewisville, Irving, Arlington, and surrounding communities. Our firm handles car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. We understand how overwhelming it feels to deal with injuries, medical bills, and insurance companies all at once, and we take that burden off your shoulders.

When you work with us, we handle the investigation, the insurance negotiations, and, if necessary, the litigation. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. They may contact you quickly after a crash and offer a settlement that sounds fair but falls far short of covering your actual losses. Before you speak with any insurance representative, talk to us first. A conversation with our team costs you nothing and could protect thousands of dollars in compensation you are entitled to receive.

Nuestra abogado de accidentes de coche team serves clients across Denton County, including those injured on University Drive, near TWU, on I-35E heading into Dallas, and at every major intersection in between. We are familiar with local courts, including the Denton County District Courts at the Tom Thumb building on Woodrow Lane, and we know how to present distracted driving cases effectively in this jurisdiction. Call us today at (940) 800-2500 for a free case review. We are here when you need us most.

Attorney responsible for this content: Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, principal office located in Denton, Texas. This page is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future matter. Results vary depending on the specific facts and legal circumstances of each case.

FAQs About Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers in Dallas and Denton, Texas

What counts as distracted driving under Texas law?

Texas Transportation Code Section 545.4251 specifically prohibits reading, writing, or sending an electronic message on a wireless device while driving. Beyond that statute, distracted driving in a broader legal sense includes any behavior that takes a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off driving. That covers eating, applying makeup, adjusting the radio, watching videos, and talking on a handheld phone. Any of these behaviors can support a negligence claim if they caused your crash.

How do I prove the other driver was on their phone at the time of the crash?

Phone records are the most direct form of evidence. Your attorney can subpoena the at-fault driver’s wireless carrier to obtain call logs and text timestamps that show exactly when the driver was using their device. Surveillance footage, dashcam video, eyewitness testimony, and the police report can all support your claim as well. Acting quickly matters because some electronic records are deleted within a short time. Contact an attorney as soon as possible so that preservation letters can be sent before that evidence disappears.

¿Qué pasa si la compañía de seguros dice que yo tengo parte de la culpa del accidente?

Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. You can still recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the crash. Your total recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages total $100,000 and you are found 20% at fault, you would recover $80,000. Insurance companies often try to assign more fault to injured victims than is justified. An attorney can push back against unfair fault assignments and protect your right to full compensation.

How long do I have to file a distracted driving accident claim in Texas?

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 gives most personal injury victims two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Missing that deadline typically means losing your right to recover anything, regardless of how strong your case is. There are limited exceptions, such as cases involving minors or claims against government entities, which have shorter notice requirements. Do not wait. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible to protect your rights.

Can I still recover compensation if the distracted driver did not receive a traffic citation?

Yes. A traffic citation is helpful evidence, but it is not required to win a personal injury claim. Civil cases and criminal traffic cases operate under different standards. In a civil claim, you must show that the driver’s negligence more likely than not caused your injuries. Evidence like phone records, witness statements, video footage, and accident reconstruction analysis can prove distraction and negligence even without a citation. Many distracted driving crashes go uncited because the officer did not witness the phone use directly, but that does not mean you have no case.

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