Texting and Driving
Vehicle accidents happen in many ways every day in South Jordan and surrounding communities of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, and one of the most commonly cited causes is distracted driving. Unfortunately, many drivers use their cell phones behind the wheel, and this is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. A South Jordan texting driving accident lawyer can help if you have been hurt due to this behavior.
Understanding Distracted Driving
Based on vehicle accident records, insurance companies have discovered that 88% of drivers use their phones for up to 3.5 minutes per hour while driving, and 68% text while driving.
Twenty-five percent of the car accidents in the U.S. are caused by texting while driving. In addition, smartphone use while driving is responsible for 1.6 million car crashes every year.
Those are the statistics in the U.S. and Utah is not much different as we explain below.
On October 29, 2020, about 40 office police offers of Utah County focused their attention on distracted driving. Nearly 200 cars were stopped and 57 drivers were cited for distracted driving, which included texting, browsing, engaging with social media, changing music on cell phones, or using other wireless devices while driving.
The Utah attorneys at The Garner Law Firm combed through the cases concerning texting and driving and fleshed out the finer details to help readers understand the distracted driving laws in Utah.
Here is what you need to know:
- Distracted Driving Laws in Utah (Code 41-6a-1716)
Utah laws specify that anything that distracts a driver’s attention away from the task qualifies as distracted driving. For example:
- Texting
- Reading
- Eating/drinking
- Typing
- Viewing/recording videos
- Dialing a phone number
- Accessing the Internet
- Using the phone to email or engage with social media
- Attending to pets or children while driving
Using a cell phone, laptop, or any wireless communication device while driving is regarded as a risky activity. However, viewing a navigation screen or using the phone for emergency purposes, including reporting criminal activity, is allowed by the state’s laws.
The law focuses on manual distractions and is largely okay with voice-activated or hands-free usage on any device.
There can be other examples of distracted driving as well. Contact your Utah texting and driving lawyer for more clarity.
- Texting while Driving and Primary/Secondary Enforcement
Primary enforcement allows the police to pull you over, while secondary enforcement means that they can cite you only if you break another law while driving.
Texting and driving in Utah invites primary enforcement. If the cop witnesses you texting and driving, he can pull you over and write a citation for violation of distracted driving laws.
If you violate other laws while distracted, the police can cite you for that violation and even penalize you for careless driving.
- Utah’s Penalties for Texting and Driving
A first-time offense is mostly classified as a Class C misdemeanor and fined $100.
Second and ensuing offenses are classified as Class B misdemeanors and each offense is fined up to $1,000, and the driver can face up to 6 months jail time.
If a fatal collision occurs when the driver is distracted, he can be charged with a second- or third-degree felony. If charged with a third-degree felony, the driver faces up to 5 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. A second-degree felony conviction can result in up to 15 years of jail time and up to $10,000 in fines.
Besides, the judge can suspend the driver’s license for up to 3 months. Then there is the insurance premium to worry about.
Victims too are likely to sue the distracted driver and here is a primer on the legal consequences of a Utah car accident.
- Distracted Driving: Impact on Insurance
A person booked for distracted driving, especially if he violates any other law, can expect his insurance premiums to increase substantially. His “safe driver” policy discount, if any, can also get eliminated. When a policyholder repeatedly demonstrates negligence behind the wheel, their insurance carrier is likely to significantly increase premiums or even drop them from coverage, and it will be difficult for them to find a new policy due to their driving record.
Free Consultation Offer
Let’s face it – most folks in Utah are distracted by their cell phones while driving. Though distracted driving cases are under-reported by the authorities, a case can assume serious consequences if the driver is in violation of another law/s too, or if he gets involved in an accident. A serious incident can taint both the driver and the victim and impact their finances, psychology, and quality of life.
If you are a victim of distracted driving, you need an experienced and successful texting and driving attorney in Utah to interpret the law, and handle the insurance company, and other third parties involved.
no risk to you,
no fee unless we win.
Insurance companies have lawyers you should have them too.
FAQs
Q: How Do You Prove Fault for a Texting and Driving Accident in South Jordan?
A: In South Jordan, it’s possible to prove fault for a texting and driving accident using various forms of evidence that your texting driving accident lawyer can secure for you. Your attorney may attempt to secure the driver’s cell phone records to prove they were using their phone when the accident happened. Eyewitness testimony and traffic camera footage, if available, can also be valuable to your case.
Q: How Common Is Texting and Driving?
A: Texting and driving is one of the most commonly cited forms of distracted driving in the United States each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2023, there were 3,275 deaths caused by texting and driving throughout the United States. In Utah, texting while driving is illegal and can lead to serious penalties, especially if the texting driver causes an accident.
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Texting and Driving Accident?
A: The amount of compensation you can claim for a texting driving accident will depend on the severity of your damages, the scope of your insurance coverage, and whether you hire a texting driving accident lawyer to represent you. Your own no-fault insurance policy may provide compensation up to the coverage limits of your policy, but you could have grounds to claim further compensation from the defendant who caused the accident.
Q: What Are the Penalties for Texting and Driving in Utah?
A: The penalties for texting driving in Utah vary based on whether the driver caused an accident and, if so, the severity of the resulting damages. It’s possible for a driver to receive a ticket and fine if a police officer observes them texting while driving, even if they have not caused an accident. However, the driver can face misdemeanor or even felony prosecution if they cause a serious accident due to their distracted driving.
Q: Why Should I Hire a South Jordan Texting and Driving Accident Lawyer?
A: You should hire a South Jordan texting driving accident lawyer because your case may be more challenging than it appears at first. The right attorney can help you gather the evidence you need to establish fault when your own insurance will not fully cover your losses, and you must pursue further legal recourse against the at-fault driver. Ultimately, your attorney can help you make sense of your legal options following the accident and maximize your recovery.
Facing the legal aftermath of a texting and driving accident can be difficult without an attorney representing you. If you have been hurt due to another driver’s negligence, the right attorney on your side can make a tremendous positive impact on the outcome of your case. Contact the Garner Law Firm today and schedule a free consultation with a South Jordan texting driving accident lawyer to learn how we can assist you with your case.
