When people hear “distracted driving,” most immediately think of texting behind the wheel, and for good reason. Phones are one of the top culprits behind car crashes in Los Angeles.
However, the truth is that distraction extends far beyond smartphones. Every day, drivers cause serious accidents because their attention is divided even for just a few seconds.
In a city as fast-paced and crowded as LA, one small distraction can have devastating consequences.
What Counts as Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving isn’t just about looking at your phone. It’s anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off driving.
In California, this can include physical, visual, and even emotional distractions that reduce your reaction time and focus.
Common Causes of Distracted Driving (That Aren’t Phones)
1. Eating or Drinking While Driving
Los Angeles traffic can make anyone feel like multitasking, as grabbing coffee or eating breakfast during a commute can become routine.
But eating or drinking means one hand off the wheel, spilled drinks, and divided attention. A moment spent reaching for a napkin or balancing a drink can be the moment an accident happens.
2. Talking to Passengers
Conversation might seem harmless, but talking especially animatedly can take your mind off the road. Parents checking on kids in the back seat or rideshare drivers chatting with passengers are common examples of this distraction leading to rear-end or lane-change crashes.
3. Adjusting Music, GPS, or Car Settings
Changing playlists, programming navigation, or adjusting the A/C pulls your focus away and often your eyes, too. Studies show that even quick glances at a dashboard screen or touchscreen can double your crash risk.
In California, new laws limit certain types of interaction with digital dashboards for this reason but many drivers still underestimate how risky this is.
4. Personal Grooming
Putting on makeup, fixing your hair, or even shaving in the car (yes, it happens) are more common than you’d think during morning commutes.
These habits might save a few minutes, but they can easily cost someone’s safety.
5. Pets or Loose Objects
A small dog jumping between seats or an unsecured item rolling under the brake pedal is more than just a nuisance, it's a major hazard. Drivers can lose control or brake too late while trying to grab or block something inside the car.
6. Emotional or Mental Distractions
Road rage, stress, sadness, or simply “zoning out” are often overlooked forms of distraction. When emotions take over, drivers may not register red lights, slow traffic, or pedestrians, leading to preventable collisions.
7. Looking at Accidents or Billboards (Rubbernecking)
Ironically, slowing down to look at another crash is one of the leading causes of secondary collisions in LA. Billboards, street performers, and even celebrity sightings can also pull a driver’s attention for that split second that matters.
Why Distracted Driving Is So Dangerous
Los Angeles is filled with stop-and-go traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, and constant lane changes. That means reaction time is everything.
At just 40 mph, taking your eyes off the road for 3 seconds means you’ve traveled over 175 feet (which is half a football field) completely blind.
Distractions don’t just cause fender benders; they cause serious injuries like:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken bones
- Long-term neck and back pain
California Laws on Distracted Driving
California has long had strict rules against using handheld phones while driving, but a new law that took effect in July 2025 takes it a step further.
Under the updated “no-touch” hands-free law, drivers are not allowed to physically hold or touch a cell phone for any reason while the vehicle is in motion even if they’re using GPS, changing a song, or tapping the screen “just for a second.”
Everything must be completely hands-free, meaning mounted devices, voice commands, or steering-wheel controls only.
But it’s important to remember that distracted driving goes far beyond phones. Even when an action isn’t specifically illegal like eating, reaching for something, adjusting the radio, or turning to talk to someone in the back seat it can still be considered negligent if it causes a crash.
So if another driver wasn’t paying full attention and their distraction led to your accident, you can still hold them legally responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Proving Distracted Driving in an Accident Claim
Proving distraction can be tricky, but an experienced attorney can help gather evidence like:
- Cell phone records showing calls or texts during the crash.
- Dashcam or surveillance footage from nearby businesses.
- Witness statements describing what the driver was doing.
- Vehicle data (infotainment logs or GPS input) showing activity before impact.
The goal is to show that the driver’s attention was diverted and that their negligence caused your injuries.
Steps to Take After a Distracted Driving Accident
- Call 911 and get medical help right away.
- Document everything, take photos, get witness info, and note traffic cameras nearby.
- Avoid speaking with the at-fault driver’s insurance before talking to a lawyer.
- Contact a personal injury attorney who knows California’s distracted driving laws and can protect your rights.
How Estrada Law Group Helps
At Estrada Law Group, we’ve handled countless distracted driving cases throughout Los Angeles from freeways to intersections and parking lots.
Our team investigates every angle to uncover what really happened, works with accident reconstruction experts when needed, and fights to get you the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
Whether the distraction was a phone, a passenger, or something else entirely, you shouldn’t pay the price for someone else’s carelessness.
Bottom Line
Distracted driving in Los Angeles isn’t just about texting, it's about every action that steals attention from the road. The next time you drive, remember: even “small distractions” can have life-changing consequences.
If you or someone you love was injured by a distracted driver, you have legal options and you deserve a team that will stand by you from start to finish.
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📞 Call Esther The Lawyer today at (323) 609-5000 or email intake@estradalawgroup.com.
We fight for victims. We fight for families. We fight for justice.
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