Distractions while driving a vehicle pose a significant public safety threat. So while the behavior is illegal in Colorado, it is also incredibly dangerous for many reasons. Below, the Boulder car accident attorney from Purvis Thomson, LLC will discuss some of what makes it so dangerous.
When we think of distracted driving, most people think of texting and driving. So much so that most states have implemented some kind of electronic device regulation for drivers, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), and Colorado implemented a hands free law in January of 2025, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
However, several environmental factors can pose a similar threat to road users’ safety. These may include:
While things like texting or eating while driving are common distractions that cause accidents, drivers must consider that anything that pulls their attention from the road can be a dangerous distraction.
Whether you are a Boulder, Co driver or simply one of the millions of registered drivers in the United States, distracted driving has probably affected you. In recent years, the CDOT reported that nearly 90% of Colorado drivers self-reported this behavior. According to the Colorado State Patrol, distracted driving causes more than 15,000 accidents each year, averaging to nearly 50 per day.
It can be difficult to determine whether someone is driving distracted. Sometimes you may clearly see them looking away from the road, or at your phone, but there may be other indicators that can help you in a personal injury case. Some of the signs to look out for include:
Other indicators may include a slow response to stopping traffic or a newly green light. After an accident, you may notice a lack of skid marks, showing that the person did not attempt to stop adequately, or maybe a short burst if they suddenly slammed on the brakes when they failed to notice the hazard in time.
In Colorado, distracted driving is often illegal and negligent. If a driver engages in this behavior and causes an accident, they are likely to find themselves responsible for the resulting injuries.
However, based on Colorado comparative negligence laws, the compensation you recover may be reduced even if the distracted driver is not entirely, or even mostly, responsible for the accident. This can happen if the other party effectively argues that your own distracted driving contributed to the accident or prevented you from avoiding it.
Liability in a distracted driving case can be complicated. Whether you are facing accusations of driving distracted or you know the person who caused your injuries was distracted, you may benefit from working with an attorney to help you navigate the process. We can help you avoid unfair liability that may damage your claim or present a case for the other person’s negligence if they were distracted.