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Texting and driving has become one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving on Missouri roads. Each year, thousands of crashes occur because a driver decides to look at a phone instead of the road, and the consequences can be life-changing. At The S.E. Farris Law Firm, we regularly represent individuals and families whose lives were turned upside down by distracted drivers, and we know how devastating these collisions can be.
If you or a loved one has been injured because another driver was texting, you may be entitled to compensation. This page explains why texting-and-driving crashes are so serious, how liability works, and what steps you should take to protect your injury claim.
Why Texting While Driving Is So Dangerous
Texting takes a driver’s focus away from the road in three critical ways:
- Visual distraction:
Eyes leave the road, often for several seconds, long enough to travel a football field at highway speeds.
- Manual distraction:
Hands leave the wheel to hold or operate the phone.
- Cognitive distraction:
The driver is thinking about the message instead of the driving conditions.
Because of this combination, texting drivers frequently cause:
- Rear-end collisions
- High-speed impact crashes
- Intersection accidents
- Failure-to-yield crashes
- Pedestrian and cyclist injuries
Many of these collisions happen with no braking at all, leaving victims with severe or catastrophic injuries.
Missouri’s Texting and Driving Laws
Missouri recently strengthened its laws on cell phone use behind the wheel, but many drivers still ignore them. Under Missouri law:
- Drivers are prohibited from manually texting, emailing, or messaging while driving.
- Hands-free use is allowed for adults, but drivers are still responsible for maintaining control of their vehicle.
- Commercial drivers are strictly prohibited from holding or using phones while driving.
Even when a behavior isn’t explicitly illegal, a distracted driver can still be held liable if their inattention caused a crash.
Signs a Driver Was Texting Before the Crash
Texting and driving often leaves behind specific warning signs, including:
- No skid marks or braking
- The driver admitting they were distracted
- A phone still in the driver’s hand or lap
- Social media or messages with timestamps around the impact
- Witnesses observing the driver looking down
- Sudden lane drifting or swerving
When we investigate distracted driving cases, our firm frequently works with experts, obtains phone records, and analyzes electronic vehicle data to determine exactly what the driver was doing before the collision.
Common Injuries in Texting-and-Driving Crashes
Because distracted drivers rarely slow down, victims may suffer:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Severe whiplash
- Internal injuries
- Facial trauma from airbags or impact
- Wrongful death
These injuries often require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, or life adjustments. Early legal representation can help protect your right to full compensation.
How Liability Works in a Texting-and-Driving Accident
If the other driver was texting at the time of the crash, they can be held responsible for damages such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle damage
- Wrongful death damages (for surviving families)
Even if police do not cite the driver for texting, your claim can still succeed. Civil cases use different standards of proof than criminal or traffic citations.
What You Should Do After a Texting-and-Driving Crash
If you believe the other driver was texting, taking these steps can help protect your case:
- Call 911 and report the accident.
- Document the scene, photos of vehicles, injuries, and road conditions.
- Look for witnesses who saw the driver texting.
- Tell the responding officer if you noticed any signs of distraction.
- Seek medical treatment immediately.
- Contact an attorney before speaking to insurance adjusters.
Insurance companies often try to downplay distraction or shift blame. Working with an experienced attorney ensures your side of the story is fully represented.
Using Real-World Crashes as Evidence
Throughout Missouri, numerous high-profile cases have highlighted how quickly lives can be changed by one distracted moment. While every case is unique, these real incidents demonstrate a common truth: texting and driving is preventable, and when someone chooses to do it anyway, they must be held accountable.
At The S.E. Farris Law Firm, we use examples from real crashes to help juries, adjusters, and judges understand just how dangerous and negligent texting and driving truly is.
Why Choose The S.E. Farris Law Firm After a Texting-and-Driving Accident?
Our firm has extensive experience handling distracted driving injury claims throughout Missouri. We know what evidence matters, how to prove the at-fault driver was texting, and how to fight back when insurance companies deny or minimize claims.
We provide:
- Thorough investigation into the cause of the crash
- Access to phone records and expert analysis
- Strong negotiation with insurance companies
- Skilled courtroom representation when needed
You deserve answers, accountability, and compensation, and our team is ready to fight for you.
Speak With a Missouri Texting-and-Driving Accident Lawyer
If you were injured because another driver was texting, you do not have to navigate the aftermath alone. Contact The S.E. Farris Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can review your case, explain your legal options, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Title: Founder | Trial Attorney | Advocate for Injury Victims
Bio: For more than three decades, Spencer E. Farris has dedicated his career to helping injured people stand up to insurance companies, large corporations, and powerful institutions. As the founder of The S.E. Farris Law Firm, he has built a reputation throughout Missouri and Illinois for thoughtful advocacy, courtroom skill, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Spencer believes the law is more than a profession. It is a public trust. That belief has guided every stage of his career, from his education at Washington University School of Law to his decades representing individuals and families whose lives have been changed by serious injuries, unsafe products, workplace accidents, medical negligence, denied insurance claims, and wrongful conduct. A nationally recognized trial attorney, Spencer is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a distinction earned by only a small percentage of practicing attorneys. He is also a graduate of the Trial Lawyers College and has been selected to Super Lawyers year after year for his work on behalf of injury victims. Beyond the courtroom, Spencer has helped shape the legal profession itself. He has served on the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys Board of Governors and held leadership roles as both associate editor and editor of the organization's magazine. Throughout his career, he has remained actively involved in advancing trial advocacy and protecting access to justice for everyday people. What clients often appreciate most about Spencer is his approachability. He understands that most people contact a lawyer during one of the most difficult periods of their lives. They are facing uncertainty, mounting bills, physical pain, and pressure from insurance companies. Spencer's goal is not simply to win cases. It is to help clients regain stability, confidence, and control over their futures. Unlike firms that measure success by volume, Spencer intentionally maintains a practice focused on personal attention and meaningful client relationships. Every case receives the preparation, strategy, and advocacy it deserves. Because when someone's future is on the line, they should never feel like just another file on a desk. Today, Spencer continues to represent individuals and families throughout Missouri and Illinois in complex personal injury, car accident, trucking accident, workplace injury, and catastrophic injury matters. His mission remains the same as it was when he opened his firm: to provide skilled legal representation, honest counsel, and relentless advocacy for those who need it most. Spencer's Practice Focus Throughout his career, Spencer has represented clients in cases involving:
- Serious motor vehicle collisions
- Commercial trucking accidents
- Catastrophic and life-altering injuries
- Wrongful death claims
- Dangerous and defective products
- Workplace and construction site injuries
- Insurance disputes and bad faith claims
- Complex personal injury litigation
