Understanding Wisconsin's Distracted Driver Laws

Distracted Driving in Wisconsin - be familiar with the laws

Wisconsin, like many states, has a law against distracted driving. Specifically, under Wisconsin Statute 346.89, no one may perform any activity "that interferes or reasonably appears to interfere" with the ability to drive. This law is vague enough to give courts a great deal of room for interpretation. Still, demonstrating another driver was distracted at the time of an accident can help you demonstrate fault and recover damages in your accident.
Cell Phones and Distracted Driving
The statute goes into specifics when it comes to cell phones. No one driving a vehicle--including when stopped in traffic or at a signal, is allowed to send a text message or an email, or dial using more than a single button. Further, no one who is newly licensed may use a mobile device at all while driving, even a hands-free device. Finally, the law prohibits anyone from using a phone in a construction zone.
All of these prohibitions come in response to the known dangers of distracted driving, and the proliferation of mobile devices among the public. Focusing on a smartphone rather than the road causes hundreds of accidents every year. If another driver is violating these rules at the time of your accident, you have a greater chance of showing that driver was at fault.
Other Forms of Distracted Driving
While the Wisconsin statute focuses on mobile phones, its terms are not limited to those devices. A driver can be distracted by eating a snack or meal, drinking coffee, turning to speak to a passenger, using the car radio, or hundreds of other activities. Anything that takes a driver's attention away from the road creates an instance of distracted driving, and can help you demonstrate that person's fault in your accident.
Distracted drivers are dangerous. They create hazards on the road that you cannot always avoid, no matter how careful you are. If a distracted driver in Wisconsin caused you injuries in a car accident, contact the experienced attorneys at Eisenberg Law Offices. We will help you recover your damages.
This post was originally published at https://www.eisenberglaw.org/understanding-wisconsins-distracted-driver-laws