What are North Carolina’s distracted driving laws?

Despite all of the education regarding the dangers of distracted driving, many drivers in North Carolina still engage in distracted driving activities. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, in 2019 there were over 285,000 vehicle accidents. Of these accidents, 20% were caused by distracted driving.

What is distracted driving?

Distracted driving is anything that takes the driver’s attention away from the road. It can include:

• Eating and drinking
• Texting
• Talking on the phone
• Changing the radio station
• Applying makeup and other grooming
• Use of GPS

North Carolina driving laws

In North Carolina it is illegal to text or email while driving. In addition, drivers who are under the age of 18 with provisional licenses cannot use their cell phone at all in the car unless there is an emergency.

If a person has been injured in an accident due to no fault of their own, they may want to speak with an attorney who specializes in personal injury. An attorney has the experience to represent their client in these tragic circumstances. They can investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and help get answers as to what happened. They can visit the accident scene and interview witnesses to understand what caused the crash and who is at fault. They can bring in experts in accident reconstruction and other specialties to make sure their client’s best interests are protected. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages.

Those who are injured in an accident due to no fault of their own should know they have the legal right to hold the negligent party responsible. A distracted driving accident can be serious and victims can face years of rehabilitation.