Distracted driving accidents are a common problem in Greenville, SC. Victims of these accidents have important rights.

At Bobby Jones Law, our experienced Greenville car accident lawyer assists victims in receiving the compensation they deserve. Bobby Jones Law explains distracted driving accidents and what victims need to know.

The Most Common Types of Driver Distractions

Distracted driving is operating a vehicle without paying adequate attention to driving. The driver’s focus is on something other than operating the vehicle.

Distracted driving falls into three categories:

Visual: Eyes off the road
Manual: Hands off the wheel
Cognitive: Thinking about something else

A driver can be distracted in multiple ways at once, such as holding a phone to type a message while thinking about the message rather than being focused on the road.

Common types of driver distractions in Greenville, SC include:

Sending messages, texting while driving
Talking to someone in the vehicle or on the phone
Assisting someone in the vehicle, interacting with pets
Someone in the vehicle is interfering with driving
Picking something up that dropped in the vehicle
Looking in the vanity mirror
Thinking about things other than driving
Eating, drinking, or smoking
Watching videos, scrolling social media, pulling up an app
Personal grooming
Looking at an accident, billboard, or roadside attraction

How South Carolina Law Addresses Distracted Driving

While South Carolina has a hands-free driving law, cell phones and text messages are not the only sources of a driver’s distraction.

A distracted driver in South Carolina may be cited for any of the following:

The South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act for cell phones and other devices
Reckless driving for serious misconduct that disregards the safety of others
Local careless driving ordinances like Greenville County, SC § 14-10, Negligent Driving, which prohibits operating on a public road without due caution in a manner that endangers the safety of others. (a misdemeanor offense)

In addition to these law enforcement citations, a distracted driver who causes an accident may be liable to victims for damages. If you have been hurt in a distracted driving accident, you may file a compensation claim and seek representation from an attorney.

South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act

The South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act went into effect in 2025. South Carolina joins most U.S. states in prohibiting handheld-device operation while driving.

The law prohibits operating a motor vehicle while:

Supporting a handheld device with any part of the body.
Reading, composing, or transmitting any text or similar communication.
Watching videos, playing games, making video calls, or the like.

There are some exceptions, including when a vehicle is lawfully parked or stopped, reporting of an accident, and first responders in their official duties. Smartwatches, Bluetooth audio-only content, and GPS navigation are okay.

What’s the penalty for violating the South Carolina Hands-Free, Distracted Driving Act?

The penalty for violating the South Carolina Distracted Driving Act is a $100 fine. For a second or subsequent offense, the fine is $200 and two license points.

What counts as an electronic device for South Carolina’s distracted driving law?

South Carolina’s distracted driving law lists prohibited devices that include cell phones, computers, electronic games, and GPS receivers. There is also a catch-all for other standalone electronic devices that communicate, display, or record digital content.

Note: Two-way radios, ham radios, medical devices, and subscription-based emergency assistance devices are explicitly allowed.

Proving Liability in a Distracted Driving Case

The victim seeking compensation for a distracted-driving accident must prove liability, which can be challenging in such cases. Liability doesn’t depend on whether law enforcement issued a ticket or the person challenged the ticket. Instead, you must show that the driver acted negligently and an accident resulted from this behavior.

What Evidence Helps Strengthen Your Claim

Evidence that can help strengthen a claim for distracted driving may include:

Witnesses, including law enforcement and individuals in your vehicle
Admissions the driver made at the scene
Driving errors and maneuvers that a person wouldn’t have made if they were paying attention, lack of evasive action
Formal evidence gathering, including requests for admissions or device use logs or social media posts around the time of the crash
Vehicle event data recorders
Dash cameras, surveillance cameras
Evidence of distraction, like food in the vehicle or the phone nearby

An attorney can assist you in working quickly to preserve evidence.

Compensation Options for Injured Victims

Individuals injured in distracted driving car accidents in Greenville, SC, have the right to claim compensation. To receive monetary compensation, you must file a claim. You can do this through insurance, or, if necessary, you can file your claim in court.

Compensation may cover both economic and non-economic losses, including medical expenses, vehicle repairs, lost income, and pain and suffering. The amount of compensation you receive will depend on your losses and personal suffering, rather than on the other party’s degree of negligence. However, in cases of extreme misconduct by the other party, it may be possible to seek punitive damages.

An experienced attorney can help you determine the value of your case and represent you in your claim.

Distracted Driving Accident Statistics Greenville, SC

In 2023, distracted driving or inattention was cited as a contributing factor in 9,067 traffic crashes in South Carolina. It was cited as a factor in 6.2% of distracted driving car accidents in South Carolina in 2023. These accidents resulted in 2,612 injuries and five fatalities.

Greenville has the most traffic collisions of any county in South Carolina, with 16,640 reported traffic accidents in 2023. The top five intersections for accidents in Greenville County are:

I-85 at S-492
I-85 at US-276
S-183 at I-385
US-25 at SC-253
I-85 at SC-146

SC Highway Patrol Troop 1-7, followed by the Greenville Police Department, investigates most Greenville County car accidents.

Contact an Experienced Greenville Car Accident Lawyer

Distracted driving accidents can change lives. Seek help from an experienced Greenville car accident lawyer at Bobby Jones Law, who can answer your questions and represent you in your claim. You can have an attorney on your case today. Call or message us now.