Distracted Driving Is Putting Knoxville at Risk

We are Knoxville Car Accident Lawyer, a legal team focused on helping people injured on Knoxville roads. We handle cases involving distracted driving, car crashes, and other motor vehicle accidents. Our goal is to protect your rights, guide you through Tennessee law, and seek full compensation for your losses. We work on a contingency basis; you pay us only if we win your case.

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle crashes in Knoxville and across Tennessee. Every time a driver looks at a cell phone, sends a text message, or takes their attention off the road, the risk of a serious crash increases. Teen drivers, older drivers, and school bus operators are all affected by distraction behind the wheel. With handheld phone use and electronic devices more common than ever, the consequences are growing.

In this blog, you will learn what distracted driving is, how Tennessee law applies, key statistics, and the steps to take after a crash, including why working with an experienced Knoxville distracted driving accident lawyer can help you seek the compensation you deserve.

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is a leading cause of motor vehicle crashes in Tennessee. Understanding what it is, how it happens, and why it matters can help reduce crashes involving distracted drivers.

Visual Distractions

Visual distractions occur when drivers take their eyes off the road ahead. This includes looking at a mobile phone, reading a text message, adjusting a navigation system, or glancing at passengers. Even a few seconds of looking away can result in a crash. A vehicle moving at 55 mph travels the length of an entire football field in five seconds.

Manual Distractions

Manual distractions happen when drivers remove one or both hands from the wheel. This includes texting, eating, using a cell phone, reaching for an object, or holding a drink. Manual distraction reduces control and increases crash risk, especially in high-traffic areas.

Cognitive Distractions

Cognitive distraction involves anything that takes the driver’s attention away from driving. Talking on the phone, daydreaming, or thinking about non-driving tasks reduces brain activity focused on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that cognitive distractions are a major contributing factor in many crashes.

Common Distraction Sources

Distracted drivers often engage with electronic devices such as handheld phones, portable electronic devices, and in-car infotainment systems. Other forms of distraction include talking to passengers, applying makeup, or managing children in the backseat.

The Consequences

Crashes involving distracted drivers can result in severe injuries, fatalities, and property damage. Many crashes linked to cellphone use and other distractions are preventable. Tennessee’s hands-free laws and texting bans aim to reduce these incidents, especially among young drivers and school bus drivers.

Tennessee’s Distracted Driving Laws

Tennessee has strict distracted driving laws designed to reduce traffic crashes and protect road users across the state. Understanding these laws helps drivers stay safe and avoid penalties.

Hands Free Law

The Tennessee Hands Free Law (T.C.A. § 55-8-199) makes it illegal for drivers to hold a cell phone or any portable electronic device while operating a vehicle. Drivers cannot write, send, or read text messages, watch videos, or record videos while driving. The law requires the use of a hands-free device if phone use is necessary.

Texting and Cell Phone Use

Text messaging while driving is banned for all drivers under Tennessee law. This includes composing, reading, or sending a text message while a vehicle is in motion. Cell phone use is also limited by age and driver type. Teen drivers and novice drivers are prohibited from using any handheld or hands-free cell phone use while driving.

School Bus and Commercial Drivers

School bus drivers and commercial motor vehicle operators face stricter rules. Under T.C.A. § 55-8-192, school bus drivers cannot use a mobile phone or any electronic device while the bus is in motion. This rule helps protect young passengers and encourages distraction-free driving.

Penalties and Fines

Violating Tennessee’s distracted driving laws can result in fines, license points, and higher insurance rates. A first offense may lead to a $50 fine, while violations in school zones or construction zones carry higher penalties. Repeat offenses can result in more severe consequences and may affect a driver’s record.

Why These Laws Matter

Distracted driving laws save lives by reducing risky behaviors behind the wheel. They remind drivers to focus on the road ahead and prevent crashes involving distracted drivers. The state laws align with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommendations to promote safer driving habits for everyone on Tennessee roads.

The Hard Numbers: Distracted Driving Statistics in Knoxville and Beyond

Distracted driving continues to cause many crashes across Tennessee, with Knoxville seeing a steady increase in distraction-related crashes involving electronic devices and risky behaviors.

Statewide Impact of Distracted Driving

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the state recorded over 9,000 traffic crashes involving distracted drivers in a recent year. Many of these crashes were linked to cell phone use and other portable electronic devices. Young drivers and novice drivers are often involved in these incidents due to inexperience and frequent phone use while driving.

Knoxville Area Crash Data

In Knoxville and surrounding areas, distraction is a growing contributing factor in motor vehicle crashes. Local law enforcement reports show that cell phone use, texting, and talking to passengers frequently lead to rear-end collisions and lane departures. These types of risky driving behaviors reduce a driver’s attention and increase crash risk, especially during peak traffic hours.

National Trends and Fatal Consequences

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than 3,000 people are killed each year in distraction-related crashes. The National Safety Council also confirms that electronic device use is a major cause of fatal crashes nationwide. Many of these crashes involve teen drivers and drivers under age 25, a group with the highest rates of handheld phone use behind the wheel.

High-Risk Age Groups and Driver Types

Data shows that younger drivers, especially those aged 16 to 24, are more likely to engage in phone use while driving. This age group has the highest involvement in crashes linked to texting and cognitive distractions. Older drivers also face risks when using navigation systems or interacting with passengers while driving.

Why These Numbers Matter

These statistics reveal a clear pattern. Distracted driving is not just a minor issue. It is a leading cause of motor vehicle crash injuries and deaths. Tracking these trends helps law enforcement, lawmakers, and distracted driving accident attorneys focus efforts to reduce distracted driving across Tennessee.

Consequences of Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving accidents often lead to serious harm, both physically and legally. The impact can affect drivers, passengers, and entire families.

Physical Injuries and Fatal Crashes

Motor vehicle crashes caused by distracted drivers can result in injuries ranging from broken bones to brain trauma. In severe cases, these crashes lead to fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that thousands of people die each year in crashes involving distracted driving. Many victims are young drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who had no warning.

Legal and Financial Penalties

Drivers who cause a crash while distracted may face legal action. This includes traffic citations, lawsuits, and even criminal charges in fatal crashes. Tennessee law holds distracted drivers responsible if they cause harm due to phone use, texting, or other risky behaviors. Financial penalties can include fines, increased insurance premiums, and compensation paid to injured victims.

Civil Liability for Distracted Drivers

Distracted drivers can be held liable in civil court. A distracted driving accident lawyer can help injured parties recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain. In some cases, a distracted driving accident attorney may pursue punitive damages if the behavior was especially dangerous, such as texting in a school zone or while speeding.

Emotional and Long-Term Effects

The damage from distraction-related crashes extends beyond the scene. Victims often suffer emotional trauma, loss of mobility, and reduced quality of life. Families of those who died in crashes involving distracted drivers carry long-term emotional and financial burdens.

Preventable Consequences

Most distraction-related crashes are preventable. Using a hands-free device, pulling over to send a text, or keeping phones out of reach can save lives. Ending distracted driving starts with understanding these consequences and making safer choices behind the wheel.

What to Do After a Distracted Driving Accident

If you are involved in a distracted driving accident, taking the right steps can protect your health, your rights, and your claim.

Get Medical Help Immediately

Check for injuries and call emergency services. Even if injuries seem minor, get evaluated by a medical professional. Some injuries from motor vehicle crashes do not appear right away. Medical records also provide important evidence if you pursue a claim.

Contact Law Enforcement

Call the police and request a report. Tell the officer if you believe the other driver was distracted. Point out signs such as a cell phone in the driver’s hand or open electronic devices. A police report helps document what happened and may note the use of a phone or other distractions.

Gather Evidence at the Scene

If it is safe, take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, and traffic signs. Get contact information from witnesses. Ask if anyone saw the other driver using a mobile phone, texting, or engaging in risky behaviors before the crash.

Do Not Admit Fault

Avoid admitting fault or making detailed statements to the other driver or their insurance company. Distracted driving accidents often involve facts that only come out later through investigation. Let the facts and evidence speak for you.

Preserve Digital Evidence

If possible, ask your distracted driving accident attorney about securing phone records or vehicle data. This information can confirm whether the other driver was using a cell phone or portable electronic device at the time of the crash. Such data helps prove distraction as a contributing factor.

Speak with a Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

Contact a local distracted driving accident lawyer as soon as possible. A distracted driving accident attorney can review your case, deal with insurance companies, and protect your rights. Early legal help increases the chance of fair compensation and can uncover key evidence to support your claim.

Consult With an Experienced Knoxville Distracted Driving Attorney ASAP!

If you or someone close to you has been hurt in a crash caused by a distracted driver, you do not have to face the aftermath alone. Our team at Knoxville Car Accident Lawyer understands how distraction behind the wheel can change lives in an instant. We are committed to holding distracted drivers accountable and helping victims recover medical costs, lost income, and other damages.

The Impact of Distracted Driving on Knoxville Roads