Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of serious crashes in Lafayette and across Louisiana. It refers to any behavior that takes your eyes off the road (visual distraction), hands off the wheel (manual distraction), or mind off driving (cognitive distraction). Even a few seconds of inattention can be catastrophic. On busy routes like Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Johnston Street, or I-10 through Lafayette, a distracted driver can cause a chain-reaction collision in moments. Our Lafayette distracted driving accident lawyers fight to hold these drivers accountable and secure compensation for victims.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 3,522 deaths from distracted driving in 2021. Experts believe the true number is even higher, as distraction is notoriously hard to prove. Louisiana ranks among the worst states for distraction-related crashes, and victims here face devastating injuries, medical bills, and time away from work.

At Brandt & Sherman, we’ve been standing up to insurance Goliaths in Louisiana for more than 50 years. We know how to uncover evidence of distraction, build strong cases in court, and win fair compensation for crash victims. Louisiana has taken steps to reduce distracted driving, but real progress comes from individual choices—like silencing your phone, pulling over to eat, or programming GPS before driving. Local initiatives focused on preventing distracted driving accidents in Lafayette underscore how critical these choices are for keeping families safe.

Why Distracted Driving Cases Are Different

Proving fault requires a different strategy because distracted drivers rarely admit what they were doing. These cases often hinge on digital evidence like phone records, app data, or in-car telematics, paired with traditional police reports. That’s why acting fast is crucial, phone carriers, apps, and even vehicles only retain some of this data for a short window. Our team looks for evidence such as cell phone records, event data recorder (“black box”) downloads, dashcam or surveillance footage, eyewitness testimony, and even app or social media activity that distracted the driver. These cases require a law firm that knows how to move quickly before evidence disappears.

Louisiana Distracted Driving Laws

Louisiana law makes it illegal to text while driving and restricts handheld phone use in certain situations. Drivers under 18 cannot use handheld devices at all, and no one may use a phone in a school zone. Beyond these rules, Louisiana’s negligence laws (Civil Code Articles 2315 and 2316) make drivers financially responsible when their careless behavior causes harm. A citation for texting or illegal phone use can significantly strengthen your car accident claim.

Common Types of Distraction on Lafayette Roads

Distraction on the road isn’t just about texting — it can be anything that pulls your attention away from driving. In Lafayette, where traffic congestion is heavy around routes like I-10 and Johnston Street, even small lapses can lead to big crashes. These distractions usually fall into two main categories:

Phone-related distractions include texting or scrolling on a phone while driving, GPS or app use on highways like I-10 and I-49, and taking calls or checking notifications.

Non-phone distractions include eating or drinking behind the wheel, talking with passengers or tending to children in the backseat, grooming or adjusting appearance in the mirror, and even daydreaming or zoning out on long stretches of road.

Whether it’s a phone buzzing with notifications or something as ordinary as eating on the go, each of these distractions increases reaction time and reduces awareness. At highway speeds, even a few seconds of inattention can be the difference between a safe trip and a devastating accident.

Injuries From Distracted Driving

Because distracted drivers often fail to brake or swerve in time, crashes tend to happen at full speed. Victims may suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal trauma, or severe whiplash. Sadly, some cases are fatal. Our attorneys also represent families pursuing wrongful death and survival actions after distracted driving crashes. If your injuries were caused by a distracted driver, our Lafayette car accident lawyers can help you pursue the full compensation you deserve.

What Compensation Is Available?

A distracted driving accident claim may include:

• Medical expenses for immediate and long-term care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering, including emotional trauma
• Vehicle repairs or replacement
• Wrongful death damages such as funeral costs and loss of companionship

Every case is unique, but our attorneys work with medical experts and economists to calculate the full value of your losses so insurers can’t minimize your claim.

How We Build Your Case

When you hire Brandt & Sherman, we act immediately to protect your rights. Our team preserves critical evidence like phone records and black box data, secures the police report, and interviews witnesses. We work with reconstruction experts and present a clear picture of how distraction caused your crash. From there, we identify every liable party and available insurance policy, negotiate aggressively, and are fully prepared to go to trial if insurers won’t pay fairly.

Why Choose Brandt & Sherman

For more than five decades, we’ve stood up to powerful insurance companies on behalf of Louisiana families. We know the crash hotspots across Lafayette, we have the trial experience to win complex cases, and we put clients first. You won’t pay a dime unless we recover compensation for you.

Speak With a Lafayette Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer Today

You don’t have to face insurers alone. Call Brandt & Sherman today for a free consultation with a Lafayette distracted driving accident lawyer. We’ll investigate your case, hold the negligent driver accountable, and fight for the compensation you deserve. You never pay fees unless we win.