Distracted Driving Accidents

The Maine distracted driving law passed in 2019 prohibited using cellphones and other handheld electronic devices while operating motor vehicles. Yet, each year, we experience numerous road accidents due to driver distraction—with over 31,300 in the past decade reported by the Maine DOT.

The latest Maine cellphone laws and hands-free law went into effect on September 19, 2019. In large part, the law was passed in an effort to reduce distracted driving accidents in the state. Although distracted driving is a problem everywhere, for Maine drivers or those driving in Maine, the issue has become a serious problem and a deadly one.

Few would argue that distracted driving accidents have been a problem nationwide for years, no less so than in Maine. The truth is, Maine has a distracted driving problem, and it’s ugly.

In the aftermath of a car accident, victims or their loved ones should consult with a car accident lawyer to help them make informed decisions and, more importantly, to make sure that they receive the compensation they deserve.

Any car accident lawyer would agree that texting and driving has reached near epidemic proportions nationwide. The roadways are filled with distracted drivers who reach for their cell phone to read messages and text while driving, and in the process cause a car accident, resulting in serious injuries and sometimes even death to innocent victims.

Even the most attentive drivers are capable of falling victim to distractions, but only recently has Maine become aware of this phenomenon when it comes to operating a motor vehicle. Law enforcement agencies and safety advocates are taking steps to reduce distracted driving accidents, which is a major cause of auto accidents across the Pine Tree State.

The experienced Portland, Maine car accident attorneys at Hardy, Wolf and Downing have seen the tragic results of distracted driving accidents far too many times in our personal injury practice. As a service to the Maine community, we would like to educate our clients about the dangers of distracted driving in an effort to protect families and save lives.