Were you hurt in an accident with another driver who was taking selfies behind the wheel instead of watching the road? If so, their ill-advised attempt at self-portraiture might have left you and other vehicle occupants with unexpected medical bills, lost wages at work, emotional trauma, and lingering pain from injuries sustained in the car accident.
Here is what you need to know about the hands-free driving laws in Alabama and how the other driver’s distraction could affect your injury claim after a distracted driving accident.
Alabama’s Hands-Free While Driving Laws
Alabama enacted a new hands-free driving law in 2023, which prohibits motorists from using handheld electronic devices while operating a vehicle.
Under Alabama Code § 32-5A-350.1, drivers may not physically hold wireless telecommunications devices or other electronic devices while driving. The law also prohibits recording or broadcasting video and using more than a single swipe or tap to initiate voice communication.
Using the camera function on a phone falls within these restrictions. If a driver holds or otherwise uses a device to take a selfie, record video, or post to social media while driving, that conduct likely violates Alabama’s hands-free law.
Why Taking a Selfie While Operating a Vehicle Is Dangerous
When a driver starts trying to perfect their latest Insta post at the wheel, it takes their eyes, hands, and attention off the road, all at the same time. That kind of distraction significantly increases the risk of drifting between lanes, missing signs or signals, and failing to react to changes in traffic flow.
Alabama crash data show that distracted driving is a top cause of traffic deaths and catastrophic injuries statewide, with 65 fatal accidents attributed to distracted driving in one recent year alone. Even a few seconds spent focused on snapping selfies rather than monitoring the road can contribute to devastating collisions.
What Happens When a Selfie-Taking Driver Causes a Crash?
Every driver has a duty to operate their vehicle with reasonable care. When a motorist decides to take a selfie while driving, they are not exercising due care. Distraction from selfie-taking can lead to lane departures, inconsistent speed, failure to brake, or failure to yield, for example. All of those actions can contribute to a wreck.
If you were involved in a crash with a driver taking selfies, evidence of the driver’s violation of Alabama’s hands-free law could support a claim that the driver was at fault. Our car accident attorneys can help you connect the other driver’s conduct to the losses you suffered in the crash and seek to hold them financially responsible.
How Can You Prove the Other Driver Was Taking a Selfie?
Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help injured victims build a case and seek compensation using evidence from multiple sources, including:
- Crash reports may contain evidence of phone use, erratic driving, or statements made by the at-fault party at the scene.
- The other driver’s cell phone records can show any activity from the time of the crash. In some cases, social media posts could reveal that the driver was uploading photos or videos taken moments before impact.
- Vehicle data, dash camera footage, and eyewitness testimony could also support your claim.
- If necessary, your attorney may even work with accident reconstruction experts or forensic professionals to analyze evidence from the car crash.
How a Distracted Driving Lawyer at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., in Huntsville Can Help
If a distracted driver caused an accident while taking a selfie, the Huntsville distracted driving car accident lawyers at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., can help you hold them accountable.
Contact our law firm today to tell us what happened and discuss your legal options in a free consultation.
