Houston Personal Injury Lawyers

Houston Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

Ryan A Dehoyos Image | Houston Personal Injury Law Firms | DeHoyos Accident Attorneys

10+

YEARS OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

5-Star

RATING ON
GOOGLE REVIEWS

1,000+

CASES AND
CLIENTS

$20 M

IN SETTLEMENTS & VERDICTS

Injured by a distracted driver in Houston, TX? Contact the top Houston distracted driving accident lawyer to seek justice and compensation.

Distracted drivers cause crashes every day on Houston freeways like I-610, US-290, and Sam Houston Tollway, as well as on busy surface streets throughout the city. When a driver looks away from the road for even a few seconds, the resulting collision can leave you with whiplash, spinal injuries, or worse. Beyond the physical pain, the cost of emergency treatment, imaging, and missed work days creates financial strain that can destabilize your entire household.

At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, our car accident attorneys specializing in distracted driving collision claims investigate cell phone records, traffic camera footage, and eyewitness accounts to prove distraction and establish liability. Our team has recovered more than $20 million for injury victims across the Houston area, and we know how to counter the tactics insurance adjusters use to reduce the value of your claim.

Contact us to schedule a free consultation and discover how our distracted driving accident lawyers at DeHoyos Accident Attorneys in Houston can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.

Houston Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

How Our Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers Help Victims in Houston, TX

A distracted driving case is won or lost on evidence the at-fault driver controls, like their phone records, app data, and dashcam footage. We move immediately to secure that proof before it disappears. While you focus on your medical care, we handle the legal work needed to protect your claim.

  • Rapid evidence preservation: We send spoliation letters within 24 hours to legally require the at-fault party to save all relevant evidence.
  • Phone and app record subpoenas: We pursue the objective data that proves a driver was looking at their screen instead of the road.
  • Insurance protection: We manage every call and letter from the adjuster so you are not pressured into accepting less than you deserve.
  • Medical documentation support: We coordinate with your providers to ensure your injuries and future treatment needs are fully recorded.

What We Do in the First Week After You Hire Us

After you hire DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, we launch an immediate action plan to build your case from the ground up.

Send Preservation Letters and Secure Video

We issue legal notices to the at-fault driver, their employer, and nearby businesses or government agencies. This requires them to preserve dashcam footage, surveillance video, and maintenance records before they are overwritten.

Pursue Phone and App Records

We use lawful subpoenas to request cell phone carrier records, text logs, and app activity. This data creates a clear timeline proving the driver was not paying attention before the crash.

Download Vehicle EDR Data

We secure data from the vehicle’s Event Data Recorder (EDR), which is the device that captures speed, braking, and steering inputs in the seconds before impact. This is one of the most objective forms of evidence in a distracted driving case.

Contact Witnesses and First Responders

We reach out to witnesses while their accounts are still fresh and obtain 911 audio and police bodycam footage. These sources often capture driver statements and scene details that are critical to your case.

Document Your Injuries and Treatment

We track every medical appointment and provider visit to create a complete record of your injuries. This prevents the insurance company from arguing that your treatment was unrelated to the crash.

What Evidence Proves Distracted Driving in Houston?

Proving a driver was distracted requires layering multiple sources of evidence. No single piece wins these cases on its own. We work to secure a combination of the following:

  • Cell phone records from the carrier
  • Social media and app activity logs
  • Traffic and red-light camera footage
  • Surveillance video from nearby businesses
  • Dashcam footage from the at-fault vehicle or other drivers
  • Event Data Recorder (EDR) information
  • 911 audio and police bodycam video
  • The official police crash report
  • Eyewitness statements

We tie these sources together to build a clear picture of the driver’s inattention and establish their responsibility for your injuries.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Distracted Driving Crash?

Texas law allows you to recover damages for every way this crash has affected your life. You may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Medical expenses: Emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, medications, and future treatment costs
  • Lost income: Paychecks missed while out of work and any long-term reduction in your ability to earn
  • Pain and suffering: Physical pain, anxiety, and the overall impact on your daily life
  • Property damage: The full cost to repair or replace your vehicle
  • Punitive damages: Additional compensation a jury may award when a driver’s conduct, like texting behind the wheel, showed a clear disregard for the safety of others

Strong proof of phone use often increases your settlement leverage because juries hold texting drivers to a high standard.

Who Is Liable in a Distracted Driving Accident in Texas?

More than one party can be responsible for a distracted driving crash. Identifying every liable party matters because it opens access to additional insurance coverage.

Liable PartyCommon Scenario
At-fault driverTexting, calling, scrolling, or eating while driving
Employer or companyDriver was working at the time, including rideshare and delivery drivers
Vehicle ownerOwner knowingly allowed a reckless person to use their vehicle
Maintenance providerA faulty repair or defective part contributed to the crash
Government entityA malfunctioning signal or dangerous road condition played a role

We investigate every angle to make sure no responsible party escapes accountability.

What Texas Laws Apply to Your Distracted Driving Case?

Texas law makes it illegal for any driver to send or receive electronic messages while driving. Proving the other driver violated this law gives your claim a strong foundation.

Texas also follows a rule called modified comparative negligence. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, as long as you are found less than 51% responsible.

Even hands-free phone calls can be considered negligent. If a driver’s mental focus was off the road because of a conversation, they can still be held liable for causing a crash.

What Causes Most Distracted Driving Crashes in Houston?

Driver distraction takes many forms beyond texting and is a leading cause of crashes in Houston. Common causes include:

  • Checking social media notifications or scrolling while stopped at a light
  • Using GPS apps, especially by rideshare and delivery drivers on I-10, I-45, and US-59
  • Eating, drinking, or reaching for items inside the vehicle
  • Engaging in hands-free calls that pull mental focus from traffic
  • Adjusting in-vehicle entertainment systems or touchscreens
  • Rubbernecking at other accidents on the 610 Loop or Beltway 8

Every one of these is a choice the driver made, and every one of these crashes is preventable.

What to Do After a Distracted Driving Crash in Houston

The steps you take immediately after a crash protect both your health and your legal rights.

Call 911 and Get Medical Care

Call 911 to report the crash and request medical help. A police report and prompt medical records create the official foundation your claim is built on.

Photograph the Scene

If you are physically able, take photos of vehicle positions, visible damage, skid marks, and road conditions. If the other driver’s phone is visible, photograph that too.

Gather Driver and Witness Information

Collect the other driver’s name, insurance details, and license plate number. Get contact information from any witnesses before they leave the scene.

Avoid Recorded Statements and Social Posts

Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company and do not post about the crash online. Both can be used to reduce or deny your claim.

Contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys

The sooner we step in, the more phone records, video footage, and EDR data we can preserve. Call us before that evidence is gone.

Why Choose DeHoyos Accident Attorneys?

DeHoyos Accident Attorneys takes fewer cases than large volume firms so that every client receives direct, personal attention from attorney Ryan DeHoyos. You will never be passed off to a junior associate or left wondering about the status of your case.

Our clients’ positive reviews and our track record demonstrate our commitment to achieving strong results for injury victims. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Texas?

Texas gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If your claim involves a government entity, such as a city vehicle or a poorly maintained roadway, you may be required to provide formal written notice within months. Waiting also risks losing the phone records, surveillance footage, and black box data that prove the driver was distracted.

Houston Roads, Courts, and Trauma Centers We Know

Our firm handles distracted driving cases across Houston’s most dangerous corridors, including I-10 and I-45, US-59/I-69, the 610 Loop, Westpark Tollway, and Beltway 8. We work with clients receiving care at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and Ben Taub General Hospital, and we navigate Harris County civil courts regularly.

Get Your Free Consultation Today

Medical bills are stacking up, your paycheck has stopped, and the insurance company is already calling. You do not have to handle this alone. DeHoyos Accident Attorneys will take over the legal process immediately, preserve the evidence that proves your case, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Call (832) 745-4878 or contact us online for your free, confidential consultation with a Houston distracted driving accident lawyer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Houston Distracted Driving Accidents

Can You Prove a Driver Was Distracted If the Police Did Not Issue a Ticket?

Yes. We use cell phone carrier records, app logs, surveillance video, and EDR data to prove distraction in civil claims, even when no citation was issued at the scene.

How Quickly Can a Driver’s Phone Records Be Obtained?

Once we file the proper legal requests, carriers typically produce records within a few weeks. Acting fast is critical because providers automatically delete data on a rolling schedule.

Can a Hands-Free Phone Call Still Be Considered Distracted Driving?

Yes. Hands-free use can still qualify as distracted driving when it pulls a driver’s mental focus from the road, and it can be used as evidence of negligence in your claim.

Who Pays Medical Bills While a Settlement Is Pending?

Your personal health insurance or the Medical Payments coverage on your own auto policy typically covers bills first. Those amounts are then reimbursed from the settlement we recover for you.

Can an Employer or Rideshare Company Be Held Liable for a Distracted Driver?

Yes. If the driver was working at the time of the crash, their employer or the rideshare company can often be held liable, which may provide access to significantly larger commercial insurance policies.

Can You Still Recover Compensation If You Were Partly at Fault?

Under Texas law, you can recover compensation as long as you are found less than 51% at fault.

Ryan DeHoyos is ready to help.

DeHoyos Accident Attorneys is committed to fighting on behalf of injured Texans. Ryan is committed to working tirelessly for each client and standing up to big insurance companies.

Ryan A Dehoyos With Two Beautiful Dogs Thumbnail 3 | Dog Bite Lawyer Houston | DeHoyos Accident Attorneys

Ryan DeHoyos

Ryan DeHoyos is an experienced personal injury lawyer. Recognized as a “Rising Star” on Super Lawyers (2019), Ryan DeHoyos can help secure the compensation you deserve so that you can move on with your life in the knowledge that you have received some measure of justice. He represents clients who have been injured in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or any other type of accident and gets them the compensation they deserve. Call him at (832) 745-4878 for a free consultation.

$2,000,000

CAR ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT

$1,130,000

PEDESTRIAN SETTLEMENT

$1,100,000

SPINAL CORD INJURY

$955,000

PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT

$1,300,000

CAR ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT

$980,000

CAR ACCIDENT SETTLEMENT

$960,000

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

$850,000

SLIP & FALL SETTLEMENT

$250,000

LONG-TERM DISABILITY

A personal approach to personal injury in Houston, Texas

“As a client to this Law Firm, I found it to be rewarding base on their work ethics. With there expertise, knowledge, flexibility and being responsive to their client needs. They will see that their client receive the best outcome on there case. There are many people out there that have bad ideas about lawyers, but DeHoyos Accident Attorneys will make sure that you’re not stressed about anything pertaining to your case. I’ll recommend that you seek this Lawyer and Law Firm for any unraveling situation you might face.”

RIDLEY OSBOURNE


“I can’t say enough good things about DeHoyos Accident Attorneys! Mr. Ryan DeHoyos is extremely knowledgeable in his field of Personal Injury. I was injured in a motor vehicle accident last year and Mr. DeHoyos stopped at nothing to get me the compensation I deserved. He kept me updated on my case regularly and guided me to get the medical care I needed. Additionally, his staff is so kind and caring, especially Ashley… Thank you, DeHoyos Accident Attorneys for your professionalism in closing my case…and WINNING big!”

RAVEN DOLBERRY


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