Most people know that texting while driving is dangerous. But distracted driving is a far broader problem — one that causes tens of thousands of accidents across Texas every year. Our Houston distracted driving accident lawyers understand how to build these cases from the ground up and hold negligent drivers fully accountable.
The Three Categories of Driver Distraction
- Visual distraction — Taking eyes off the road: phone screens, GPS displays, passengers, roadside objects
- Manual distraction — Removing hands from the wheel: eating, adjusting the radio, grooming, handling objects
- Cognitive distraction — Removing mental focus from driving: intense conversations, daydreaming, emotional distress
Texting while driving is uniquely dangerous because it combines all three simultaneously — visual, manual, and cognitive. Our page on electronic device use while driving explores this danger in detail.
Forms of Distracted Driving Beyond Texting
- Talking on the phone (even hands-free increases cognitive load)
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Applying makeup, shaving, or other grooming
- Adjusting music, climate controls, or navigation systems
- Watching videos on mounted devices
- Reaching into the back seat
- Daydreaming — the most common cognitive distraction
Texas Law on Distracted Driving
Texas law prohibits reading, writing, or sending an electronic message while driving. A traffic citation for distracted driving is powerful evidence of negligence in a personal injury lawsuit.
How We Prove a Distracted Driving Claim
- Cell phone records — A subpoena can reveal whether the driver was texting or using an app at the moment of impact
- Dashcam and surveillance footage — Video catching the driver looking down or failing to respond
- Witness accounts — Passengers or bystanders who observed the driver’s behavior
- Event Data Recorder (EDR) data — The black box showing whether the driver braked before impact
Employer Liability for Distracted Driving
If the distracted driver was working at the time — on a business call, making deliveries, or driving a company vehicle — their employer may also be liable, significantly increasing your car accident claim. Call Maida Law Firm at 713-785-9484 for a free consultation in Houston or Sugar Land.