Driving through the busy intersections of Western Pennsylvania, from the Cranberry Mall area to the high-traffic merge of I-79 and the Turnpike, requires a driver’s full attention to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. If you have been injured because another driver chose to text or check their social media feed, you need a Cranberry Township distracted driving accident lawyer.
Understanding your rights after a crash is the first step toward placing responsibility on careless drivers for their dangerous actions. Look no further than Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, for your attorney. We can help residents in Butler County navigate the legal aftermath and secure the compensation they need for their recovery.
State data provides details regarding how often distracted drivers get on the road and who makes up this demographic:
At the national level, distracted driving claims thousands of lives annually. 3,275 fatalities occurred because of distracted driving in 2023. This demonstrates that a single glance at a phone or anywhere away from the road can have permanent, life-altering consequences for victims and their families.
As a direct response to rising safety concerns about distraction-related collisions in the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania’s distracted driving accident laws have recently undergone a massive transformation to better protect citizens. On June 5, 2025, Paul Miller’s Law went into effect. As a result:
If you need to file a distracted driving accident claim, knowing these laws helps provide a powerful foundation to prove that someone else’s carelessness negatively impacted you.
Dealing with the legal system while recovering from an injury is overwhelming, which is why it is important to hire a distracted driving accident lawyer who understands the nuances of local Butler County courts. Proving that a driver was distracted often requires evidence such as:
When you hire a distracted driving accident attorney, you gain a partner who can handle the aggressive tactics of insurance adjusters who often try to downplay the severity of your distracted driving accident claim. Our priority is to ensure your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering are fully accounted for, giving you the financial reassurance to focus entirely on your physical rehabilitation and family.
Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, is deeply rooted in Western Pennsylvania, and we take pride in providing high-quality legal counsel to our neighbors in Cranberry Township. When you work with a Cranberry Township distracted driving accident attorney from our team, you won’t be treated as just a case number but as a valued member of our community trying to get the justice you deserve.
With our combined 45 years of experience handling various types of personal injury incidents, including motor vehicle collisions caused by distractions, we work to get a fair settlement for our clients.
The new distracted driving law in Pennsylvania is Senate Bill 37, known as Paul Miller’s Law. It makes it illegal for drivers to use handheld interactive mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops, while behind the wheel. For this reason, the police have the right to stop drivers just for holding a device in their hands.
In Pennsylvania, the driver who takes their attention off the road is primarily responsible for a distracted driver incident. However, fault can sometimes extend to others. For example, if someone is driving as part of their work duties but they get distracted and cause a crash, their employer could be held responsible for them.
In rare cases, a person who decides to text a driver even though they know they’re driving could also face punishments in a distracted driving accident claim.
The penalties for distracted driving in Pennsylvania include a written warning through June 4, 2026, under the current phased enforcement of Paul Miller’s Law. Starting June 5, 2026, the penalty becomes a summary offense that carries a $50 fine.
Court costs and administrative fees can increase the total cost of the ticket. Additionally, the penalties can increase to felony charges and prison time if a driver takes the life of another person because they weren’t paying attention to the road.
You must roll your window down for the police if they stop you for distracted driving, as the courts have ruled that rolling down the window is reasonable in context and only a small intrusion. Choosing not to follow an order that an officer gives you can make the situation worse and may lead to charges for interfering with an investigation or resisting an officer.
Don’t wait too long to take action if you or a loved one gets hit by a driver who wasn’t paying attention because of a mobile device or other distraction. Seek professional guidance as soon as possible.
Our team at Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, is ready to support you during this difficult time. When you reach out to us for a consultation, we discuss your case and determine together how we can help you move forward.