Is it illegal to text and drive in Indiana? In short, yes. The Indiana distracted driving law, Indiana Code § 9-21-8-59, effectively bans texting and driving in Indiana. The law states that it is unlawful to type, transmit, or read text or email messages while driving unless you do so with the aid of a hands-free or voice-operated device.
Why You Should Learn More about the Indiana Distracted Driving Law
Why is it illegal to text and drive in Indiana? Put simply, texting and driving in Indiana is illegal because driving while distracted can kill! According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of people who died due to distracted driving crashes in the US was 3,166 in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available. The top distraction while driving is the use of a cell phone, and cell phones were involved in 434 fatal crashes in 2017.
More than 1,000 people are injured every day, on average, in an accident involving a distracted driver. If you or a loved one have been injured or a family member has been killed due to texting and driving in Indiana, you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries or losses. An Indiana auto accident attorney can help you evaluate your legal options and move forward in the best way possible.
More Numbers to Support the Indiana Distracted Driving Law
Nine percent—nearly one in ten—of fatal crashes were due to driver distraction in 2017. These crashes involved 2,994 distracted drivers. On average, nearly nine people are killed in crashes that involve a distracted driver each day in the US.
In 2018, 10,466 traffic collisions were caused by distracted driving and 1,246 were caused specifically by cell phone use, according to a report from Indiana University’s Public Policy Institute. But experts believe the actual numbers are likely higher than the statistics represent due to lack of reporting and the difficulty of tracking causation in these situations.
The Personal Impacts of Texting and Driving in Indiana
Bottom line—texting and driving in Indiana happens way too often, and now it has happened to you! You were driving along, maybe on your way to work or school, when suddenly, someone else who was driving while distracted ran a red light and slammed into your car, injuring you. Now you can’t work or you miss school, and your medical bills are only going up and up. Often times, people in this situation don’t know what to do next and it doesn’t help that the other driver’s insurance company is often urging you to settle even before you are done with your medical treatment.
How an Indiana Auto Accident Attorney Can Help
If you have been injured by another’s distracted driving, it is important to get legal counsel right way. An Indiana auto accident attorney from Camden & Meridew, PC can help you by making sure cell phone records and other electronic data aren’t destroyed and that valuable evidence needed to prove your case is preserved. We can interview witnesses, get accident reports and medical records, and work with the other driver’s insurance company to get you compensation.
If you believe someone was breaking the Indiana distracted driving law and that action or other negligence or misconduct resulted in an injury to you or the death of a loved one, reach out to us. It is illegal to text and drive in Indiana and you might be entitled to compensation for your losses. Contact us through our online contact form or call 317-770-0000 to set up an initial consultation. We are happy to help!