Open 24/7 412-765-3345
Open 24/7 412-765-3345
Driving should require your attention at all times. From observing the environment to reacting and making decisions accordingly, your full attention should always be on driving. Pittsburgh’s intricate network of roads and intersections, with its unique twists and turns, compels drivers to stay focused, even if they’d rather not. However, unfortunately, distracted driving accidents still occur. When this happens, a Pittsburgh distracted driving accident lawyer can help you.
These claims are typically heard in the Allegheny County Courthouse located at 436 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
SMT Legal was founded by Pittsburgh natives. Not only did the three main attorneys in the firm grow up together, but they also went to school locally and still live in the Pittsburgh area. With local knowledge and commitment to the community, SMT Legal continues to grow and thrive by handling each case as they would for themselves or their family.
From injury cases with substantial damages to litigation-heavy cases, SMT Legal knows Pittsburgh and how these types of claims progress.
From multi million-dollar injury settlements to complex criminal defense—get the team that fights to win.
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Someone who is distracted isn’t completely unaware, but they aren’t fully focused on driving either. While distracted driving is often popularized by texting and driving, other actions fall into this category as well. This can include adjusting the GPS, looking in the mirror, or attending to someone in the backseat, among other actions.
It could even be that you daydream mid-drive and don’t realize you’re not thinking about your destination until after the fact. Build-up distractions like these might not feel like a big deal. However, they still take away from your ability to react to traffic and driving conditions.
Technology in cars these days can also create distractions. Touch screens, buttons, and voice command features all create areas on your car that want your attention. While older vehicles may not have had this issue, new technology comes with new distractions.
Between 2021 and 2025, there were over 9,000 distracted driving offenses in Pennsylvania. Allegheny County accounted for 8.74% of these offenses, with 155 of them in 2025 alone. When a driver is distracted, they don’t cause a crash. They cause a delay that leads to a crash.
Imagine coming to a crossroads where traffic suddenly slows down. A driver who is paying close attention starts braking almost instantly. It could take a distracted motorist a little longer to comprehend what is going on. That tiny delay could mean the difference between a safe stop and a collision with another car. Drivers who are distracted can experience delays in:
Pittsburgh has a lot of hazards to look for. Our winding streets, hidden corners, and fast-paced merges make it far too easy to lose focus for even a moment.
Pennsylvania law makes specific reference to distracted driving through its texting while driving ban. However, broader laws are also at play. Distracted driving can fall under Pennsylvania’s negligence laws. As a driver, you are expected to operate your vehicle in a safe manner and pay attention to the road. Not paying attention can lead to an accident and serve as proof of negligence in a legal claim.
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule. In some cases, both drivers may be at fault. How much one driver is at fault compared to the other can impact potential compensation. Keep in mind, there are time limits to file these claims, so it is recommended that you hire a distracted driving accident lawyer right away and begin filing your claim as soon as possible.
When you file an accident claim for physical damage or injuries, you rarely have digital evidence to review. Distracted driving crashes are different. Our devices, from phones to apps to videos, now leave a digital breadcrumb trail. The real challenge lies in pinpointing where to search and precisely what to seek.
Cell phone records may indicate whether a cellphone was being used near the time of the crash. Text messages, apps, and phone call history may also become part of the investigation. Some vehicles even store information about speed, braking, and driver inputs.
Dash cameras and surveillance footage are becoming more common at intersections. Traffic cameras, local businesses, and home security systems may have videos of what happened immediately before the crash. Today’s technology allows us to use various evidence types to show not just the crash’s mechanics, but also the driver’s focus just before impact.
Simply put, not all distraction evidence is electronic. Patterns of behavior leading up to an accident can also indicate distraction. Here are some examples:
These are just some examples of how drivers who text and drive often behave before an accident occurs. They might not prove a distraction by themselves, but they can help you prove your case when used along with other types of evidence.
Fortunately, not every distracted driving accident results in serious injury. In some cases, it results in only property damage to either the driver or others. Other times, it may result in a one-vehicle accident where the distracted driver hits a lamppost, and others are not immediately affected. However, there are some occasions where distracted driving leads to injury, especially in head-on collisions or T-bone accidents. Some of these injuries include:
There are many types of injuries that can occur after any motor vehicle accident. However, since drivers might not react in time to slow down before hitting your vehicle, injuries can be more severe.
If you suspect the other driver was distracted when your accident occurred, there are some simple things you can do to preserve evidence.
Take pictures at the scene. Gather as much information as you can about the crash. If eyewitnesses stopped to help you, ask them questions and get their contact information.
You should always report the accident to law enforcement. When you call the police, an officer can create an official record of the crash. They might include that the other driver was distracted in the police report. Remember to get medical help for your injuries, since your medical documentation can tie the accident directly to your injuries.
Cases involving distracted driving are frequently straightforward, but they often become contested when the other driver claims they were not distracted. Insurance companies are likely to dispute a distracted driving accident claim because they believe there is no evidence to support it, or they argue that distraction did not cause the collision.
This challenge may seem unfair if you have no concrete evidence of distraction. Distracted driving accident cases can involve obtaining cell phone records, working with professionals, and reconstructing timelines. While some cases are simple, others become quite technical. This is when hiring a Pittsburgh distracted driving accident attorney becomes important.
In Pittsburgh, distracted driving is governed by Pennsylvania state law, which bans drivers from sending, reading, or writing text-based communication while driving, such as email and text messages. Hands-free operation is permitted, however. As with all of Pennsylvania’s traffic laws, total focus on the task of driving is still required, and drivers can still be ticketed for driving distracted if it hinders their ability to drive safely.
Pennsylvania has made texting while driving a primary offense, so you can be pulled over just for texting. A citation will most likely result in a fine and court costs. If you cause a crash while distracted, particularly if there are injuries, you may be cited or charged with more serious offenses based on the facts of the crash.
Pennsylvania law does not address eating while driving. Eating while driving is only illegal if it distracts you to the point of careless or reckless driving. An officer could pull you over and cite you for careless or reckless driving if you caused an accident or were driving unsafely while eating.
Law enforcement can build their case on their own observations, for instance, if they saw the driver with or focused on their phone, in addition to the context of the traffic stop or wreck. More egregious cases allow police to look through cellphone records to see if a text or data activity occurred at the time of the collision. Witness statements and video evidence can also back up this claim.
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If you were injured or suffered property damage or other losses in a car accident and you suspect the other driver was distracted, an attorney at SMT Legal can help you advocate for the compensation you need. Contact us today for a consultation.
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