12 Ways to Avoid Distracted Driving in 2026 (And What to Do If a Distracted Driver Hits You in Michigan)

If you drive in Michigan, you've probably seen it - someone drifting over the center line with a phone in their hand. Distraction has been a problem since cars were invented, but smartphones, apps, and in-dash touchscreens have multiplied the ways we can lose focus behind the wheel.

Michigan responded with a strict hands-free law: it's illegal to manually hold or use a phone or other mobile device while driving, even at a red light, with only limited emergency exceptions. You can use hands-free or voice-activated features, but even those are limited to a single tap or swipe. (Source: Michigan State Police - Distracted Driving)

And we see the fallout firsthand. Our Michigan car accident lawyers handle these cases every year, and the numbers back up what we see in practice.

What the Numbers Actually Show

Here's the picture, according to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts:

• 2023: 15,136 crashes involved a distracted driver, resulting in 5,889 injuries and 59 deaths.
• 2024: Crashes dropped to 14,439, but fatalities climbed to 65, a roughly 10% jump in deaths even as the number of crashes went down. (Source: Michigan Traffic Crash Facts; Lee Steinberg - Saginaw Car Accident Lawyers)
• Nationally: The CDC reports that nine people are killed every day in U.S. crashes involving a distracted driver. (Source: CDC - Distracted Driving)

In other words: fewer distracted driving crashes are happening, but the ones that do happen are turning deadlier. And distracted driving crashes have climbed significantly over the past decade as a broader trend, so this isn't a one-year blip.

One stat worth remembering as you read this: nearly half (48.4%) of distracted-driving crashes in Michigan are rear-end collisions. (Source: Michigan State Police - 2024 Distracted Driving Awareness Month Release) That tracks with what we see at our firm, too. When someone's looking down at a screen, they simply don't see the brake lights in front of them until it's too late.

The 3 Types of Distraction (And Why Texting Is the Worst)

Safety agencies break distraction into three categories: (Source: CDC - Distracted Driving; MSP - Distracted Driving)

• Visual - your eyes leave the road
• Manual - your hands leave the wheel
• Cognitive - your mind leaves the task of driving

Texting is uniquely dangerous because it hits all three at once - you look down, your hands leave the wheel, and your mind is on the message instead of the road ahead. It's exactly the behavior Michigan's hands-free law was written to stop.

12 Ways to Stay Focused Behind the Wheel

None of these require a lifestyle overhaul. They're small, doable changes, and a few of them are now the law in Michigan, not just good advice.

1. Use your phone's Do Not Disturb feature.

Turn on “Do Not Disturb While Driving” so calls and texts are silenced automatically, and set an auto-reply like “I'm driving right now.” There are also apps that go even further, auto-blocking texts and calls entirely.

2. Put the phone out of reach.

If your phone is a temptation, move it somewhere you can't easily grab it - the glove box, center console, or a bag in the back seat. This one simple step makes it a lot harder to slip into texting at a red light, which is still illegal even though the car isn't moving.

3. Fight drowsy driving like you'd fight drunk driving.

Drowsiness is a distraction in its own right. NHTSA estimates around 100,000 police-reported crashes a year are directly caused by driver fatigue, leading to tens of thousands of injuries and more than a thousand deaths. To avoid becoming a drowsy driver, get real sleep before a drive, swap drivers on long trips, and schedule rest stops before you start to zone out. If you're already feeling it mid-drive, here are some practical tips to stay awake until you can safely stop.

4. Set ground rules for passengers, especially teen drivers.

A car packed with friends, kids, or loud music pulls your focus off the road, and this matters even more for teen drivers. Michigan's Graduated Licensing system and Kelsey's Law already recognize this, banning most cell phone use for Level 1 and 2 license holders. (Source: MCL 257.602c - Kelsey's Law) If you're a parent, talk through the rules together, ask passengers to handle navigation or texts so the driver doesn't have to, and never call or text your teen when you know they're behind the wheel.

5. Skip eating, drinking, or grooming behind the wheel.

It might feel efficient, but it's a classic combination of manual and visual distraction. The Michigan State Police specifically calls out eating, drinking, personal grooming, and reading (even maps) as things to avoid while driving. If you're going to eat, pull over first.

6. Do all the “other things” before you shift into drive.

Answer the urgent text, adjust your seat and mirrors, clear the fogged windows, set your playlist, and program your GPS before you leave the driveway. Entering navigation info while moving isn't just risky, it's also against Michigan's hands-free rules.

7. Don't lean too hard on your car's built-in tech.

Touchscreens, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and streaming apps can be just as distracting as your phone. Set your route, audio, and alerts before you go, and resist scrolling through menus once you're moving. Taking your eyes off the road for just five seconds at highway speed is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded.

8. Get support if focus is a genuine challenge.

Conditions like ADHD, depression, or anxiety can make it harder to stay locked in while driving, even something as ordinary as a passenger talking can become a bigger pull on your attention. If this sounds familiar, talk to your doctor about medication timing and whether you should avoid driving in especially demanding situations, like heavy traffic or bad weather.

9. Secure kids and pets properly.

A child unbuckling in the back seat or a dog climbing into your lap forces your eyes off the road. Michigan's own distracted-driving guidance specifically warns against driving with a pet on your lap. Use proper car seats, boosters, or pet restraints, and if someone needs attention, pull over to a safe spot first.

10. Save emotional conversations for later.

Arguing with a passenger, taking a stressful phone call, or replaying a tense conversation in your head are all cognitive distractions, even if your eyes never leave the road. If a conversation is getting heated, it's okay to say “let's finish this when we're not driving.” Your attention belongs on the road, not the argument.

11. Keep your car in good shape.

A dragging fender, wobbly tire, warning light, or rattling exhaust can pull your attention away from the road just by existing. Keep up with maintenance, properly inflated tires, working lights, clear glass, so your vehicle isn't adding to the distraction problem.

12. Stay aware of other drivers and give them space.

You can't control anyone else's choices, but you can control your response. If a driver near you is weaving, braking late, or clearly on their phone, back off, avoid driving alongside them, and let them pass rather than engaging in road rage. Extra following distance is genuinely your best defense against the kind of rear-end crash we talked about earlier.

What to Do If You're Injured by a Distracted Driver in Michigan

What you do in the first hours and days after a crash matters, both for your health and for your case.

1. Get medical care immediately. Call 911 or seek emergency care even if you feel “just shaken up.” Concussions, neck and back injuries, and internal trauma often show up hours or days later. Medical records are the backbone of connecting your injuries to the crash.

2. Make sure a police report gets filed. Officers will document vehicle damage, witness info, and anything that points to distraction or a hands-free law violation. That report is often the starting point for proving fault.

3. Document the scene if you're able. Photos of the vehicles, license plates, skid marks, signals, and your visible injuries. Note whether you saw the other driver holding a phone or looking down, and get contact info from any witnesses.

4. Preserve digital evidence quickly. Phone records, app logs, dashcam footage, and traffic camera video can all disappear or get overwritten fast. A lawyer can send preservation letters and request this data before that happens (more on how this evidence gets used below).

5. Be cautious with your insurance company. Michigan is a no-fault state, so your own insurer typically pays your medical expenses and wage loss regardless of who caused the crash (details on this below). Report the crash promptly, but hold off on recorded statements until you've talked to a lawyer. The adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you.

6. Track your symptoms and costs. Pain levels, missed work, tasks you can't do around the house anymore, bills, mileage to appointments. All of it helps your attorney and your doctors show how the crash has actually changed your life.

7. Talk to a lawyer early. These cases often involve disputed fault, time-sensitive digital evidence, and Michigan's layered no-fault system, not something you want to untangle alone while you're recovering.

Your Legal Rights After Being Hit by a Distracted Driver

Michigan law gives you two main paths after a crash caused by a distracted driver.

No-Fault (PIP) benefits.

Regardless of fault, most injured drivers and passengers are entitled to Personal Injury Protection benefits from their own insurer (or another insurer in the priority chain), which can cover:

• Medical expenses for reasonably necessary, accident-related care
• Wage loss, generally up to 85% of your gross income, for up to three years, subject to a monthly cap
• Replacement services for household tasks you can no longer do
• Attendant care for serious injuries

Deadlines matter here: in many cases, claims for unpaid PIP benefits must be filed within one year of the service date, or they can be permanently barred. It's worth understanding your rights around who pays your medical bills after a Michigan car accident sooner rather than later.

A third-party claim against the distracted driver.

Beyond PIP, you may be able to sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, excess wage loss beyond the PIP period, and other losses PIP doesn't cover. To bring this kind of claim, your injuries generally need to meet Michigan's “serious impairment of body function” or “permanent serious disfigurement” threshold under MCL 500.3135.

There's also a statute of limitations, typically three years from the date of the crash for most injury claims, so this isn't something to sit on.

Can You Sue a Driver for Texting and Driving in Michigan?

Yes. If a texting or phone-using driver seriously injures you, you can generally pursue a personal injury lawsuit in addition to your no-fault claim.

Under MCL 257.602b, it's illegal for most Michigan drivers to hold or manually use a mobile device while driving. That covers calls, texting, video, social media, and manually entering GPS destinations. It's a primary offense, meaning an officer can pull someone over for this alone, and fines double if the violation causes a crash.

Here's why that matters for your case: in a civil lawsuit, your attorney has to prove the other driver was negligent. Evidence that they were violating the hands-free law, like the phone records and app logs mentioned earlier, can be powerful proof of exactly that. It's a big part of how social media and digital evidence can affect a Michigan car accident case, for better or worse.

The general process looks like this: file your no-fault claim first so your immediate bills are covered, then a lawyer works to preserve the digital evidence, build out the negligence case, and either negotiate a settlement or take it to trial if needed.

Talk to a Michigan Distracted Driving Lawyer

Preventing distraction is always the goal, but when someone else's phone habit causes your crash, you shouldn't have to navigate the aftermath solo. Our Michigan car accident lawyers have handled distracted-driving cases for more than 50 years and know how to move fast on digital evidence before it disappears. We work on contingency, so there's no fee unless we win.

If a distracted driver has injured you or someone you love, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation: 1-800-LEE-FREE.

This article is for informational purposes only and isn't legal advice. Laws change, and every case is different, so talk to a licensed Michigan attorney about your specific situation.