Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
A distracted driving accident can leave you facing serious injuries, medical bills, lost income, and a lot of uncertainty about what comes next. One moment you are heading to work or returning home; the next, you are dealing with the aftermath of a crash caused by a driver who was texting, talking on the phone, or otherwise not paying attention to the road.
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents in Fort Worth. In 2024, Texas recorded 380 distracted driving fatalities statewide, and Tarrant County consistently ranks among the top counties for distracted driving crash volume. Over a recent five-year period, Fort Worth recorded more than 25 fatal crashes specifically attributed to driver distraction. Drivers who text, use navigation apps, eat, apply makeup, or engage in other distracting activities put everyone on Fort Worth’s roads at risk. Texas law prohibits texting while driving statewide. When drivers violate these laws and cause crashes, they can be held accountable for the harm they cause.
At Frenkel & Frenkel, our Fort Worth distracted driving accident lawyers understand how to investigate cell phone use and prove driver negligence. We know how to subpoena phone records, obtain witness statements, analyze crash data, and identify all available sources of compensation. We fight for injured clients when insurance companies try to minimize payouts or deny valid claims. Our firm prepares every case as if it will go to trial because insurance companies know which law firms are willing to go to court and which are not.
If you or a loved one was injured in a distracted driving accident in Fort Worth or anywhere in Tarrant County, contact us for a free consultation. We handle distracted driving accident claims on a contingency fee basis; you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
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*Client may be responsible for certain costs and expenses regardless of outcome.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Quick Answer
Do I need a lawyer after a distracted driving accident in Fort Worth?
Yes. Insurance companies work immediately to minimize your claim and dispute that the driver was distracted. You need an attorney who moves just as fast. Frenkel & Frenkel investigates the crash, subpoenas cell phone records, identifies every liable party, and handles the insurance companies so you can focus on recovering.
Call (817) 333-3333 — Free Consultation"*" indicates required fields
Consider these factors:
Was the driver on their phone (texting, GPS, social media)?
Did witnesses observe distraction?
Does the crash pattern suggest inattention (rear-end, drifting lanes, running a red light)?
Prioritize Health: Seek medical care immediately, even if injuries seem minor. Concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage may take time to manifest.
Preserve Evidence: Take photos of vehicles, the scene, traffic signals, skid marks, road conditions, and your injuries.
Gather Information: Obtain the driver’s name, insurance, and license plate. Collect contact info from witnesses.
Document Details: Write down everything while clear in your mind: date, time, location, and the driver’s behavior (e.g., looking at phone, drifting).
Contact a Fort Worth Attorney: Speak to a lawyer sooner rather than later to preserve critical evidence like cell phone records. Call the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) for an official crash report — this document is critical for your claim.
Every case is different. Some cases settle in a few months. Others may take a year or more, depending on how complex they are.
A few things can affect the timeline. How serious are your injuries? Are the cell phone records clear or are they being contested? Is the insurance company disputing that the driver was distracted? Do we need accident reconstruction experts to prove the driver wasn’t paying attention? These factors all play a role.
Our team works to move cases forward as quickly as possible. At the same time, we do not rush into a settlement that may not be fair. We keep you updated along the way so you always know where things stand.
Yes, absolutely. Texas personal injury law allows passengers to file claims against the at-fault driver, even if you were riding in a vehicle driven by a family member or friend. If you were injured by a distracted driver, you have the right to seek compensation.
What matters most is that the other driver was negligent and that their distraction caused your injury. A lawyer can look at the facts of your case and help you figure out the best path forward.
Quick Answer
Can I recover more compensation if multiple parties caused my distracted driving accident?
Potentially yes. Each liable party may carry their own insurance policy. Identifying multiple defendants — such as the distracted driver, their employer, and other negligent parties — can open up multiple sources of recovery that a single-defendant case would not. This is one of the most important reasons to hire an attorney who investigates the full picture, not just the driver.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
Get a Free Case Review — (817) 333-3333
At Frenkel & Frenkel, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront. We only collect a fee if we recover money for you.
There is no charge for your first consultation. You can call us, tell us what happened, and we will let you know if we think we can help. There is no pressure and no obligation.
We advance all case costs, including subpoenaing cell phone records, hiring accident reconstruction experts, and consulting with medical professionals. You do not pay us back unless we win your case.
Our attorneys have spent decades fighting for people hurt by distracted drivers. We have the knowledge and resources to take on even the most complex cases involving cell phone use, texting while driving, and negligent driver behavior.
Our founding attorneys used to defend insurance companies. Now, they use that inside knowledge to fight for injured people like you. We know the tactics companies use, and we know how to counter them.
We have recovered over $1 Billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients.* For 16 straight years, our attorneys have been named among the Best Lawyers in Fort Worth.
Settlement - Catastrophic Injury Case
Verdict - Commercial Vehicle Collision
Settlement - Trucking Accident Case
Settlement - Serious Motor Vehicle Wreck
Source: Texas Department of Transportation, 2023 Annual Report.
Texas law prohibits texting while driving statewide under Texas Transportation Code Section 545.4251 (effective September 1, 2017). This ban prohibits reading, writing, or sending electronic messages while operating a motor vehicle.
$25-$99 first offense; $100-$200 for repeat offenses; up to $4,000 fine and potential jail time if texting causes serious injury or death.
Rear-End Collisions
These are the most common distracted driving crashes. When a driver looks down at their phone or adjusts the radio, they may not see traffic slowing ahead. Even a two-second delay can mean crashing into the car in front at full speed.
Intersection Accidents
Distracted drivers often run red lights or stop signs without realizing it. They may also fail to yield the right of way when turning. Intersection crashes frequently cause serious injuries because vehicles strike each other at angles.
Lane Departure Crashes
Taking your eyes off the road can cause you to drift out of your lane. This may lead to sideswiping another car, hitting a guardrail, or crossing the center line into oncoming traffic. Head-on collisions are often fatal.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Accidents
Distracted drivers may not see people crossing the street or riding bikes. These accidents are especially dangerous because pedestrians and cyclists have no protection. Injuries are often severe or fatal.
Multi-Vehicle Pileups
One distracted driver can trigger a chain reaction. When the first car fails to brake in time, others behind it may not be able to stop either. These crashes often involve multiple vehicles and serious injuries.
Single-Vehicle Crashes
Even without hitting another car, a distracted driver can cause harm. Running off the road, hitting a tree, or striking a fixed object can lead to severe injuries. You may still have a claim if another party’s negligence contributed.
Reading or sending text messages takes your eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. At 55 mph, that is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded. Texas law bans texting while driving statewide.
Talking on the phone, even hands-free, diverts mental focus from driving. Handheld phone use is illegal in many Texas cities, including Fort Worth. Looking up contacts, dialing, or checking notifications all increase crash risk.
Programming a GPS or looking at directions while driving causes both visual and manual distraction. Many drivers try to adjust their route or read maps while moving, taking attention away from the road ahead.
Unwrapping food, holding drinks, or reaching for items in the car requires you to take at least one hand off the wheel. Spills or dropped items may cause sudden reactions that lead to loss of control.
Applying makeup, shaving, fixing hair, or adjusting clothing behind the wheel diverts attention from driving. These activities often require looking in the mirror instead of watching traffic.
Adjusting the radio, climate controls, or touchscreen systems takes focus away from driving. Modern dashboards with complex menus can be just as distracting as a smartphone.
Distracted driving means any activity that takes your attention away from the road. This includes texting, talking on the phone, eating, or adjusting controls. You may have a claim if another driver's distraction caused your accident and you suffered injuries or property damage. Texas law gives you two years to file.
The most common types are texting or using a cell phone, adjusting GPS or navigation systems, eating or drinking, personal grooming, and interacting with passengers. Looking at or reaching for objects in the car is also a frequent cause. All of these activities reduce your ability to react to road hazards.
Yes. Texas banned texting while driving statewide in 2017. Fort Worth also has a broader hands-free ordinance that restricts handheld phone use. If the other driver violated these laws, it strengthens your case by showing negligence. We can subpoena phone records to prove they were texting at the time of the crash.
The distracted driver is usually liable, but other parties may share responsibility. This can include their employer if they were working, a parent who owns the car their teen was driving, or a bar that over-served them. In some cases, a city may be liable if poor road design contributed to the crash.
Key evidence includes cell phone records, witness statements, police reports, traffic camera footage, and the driver's own admissions. We can subpoena phone data to show calls or texts at the time of the crash. Dashboard camera or surveillance video from nearby businesses can also help prove distraction.
