Using a cell phone while in a moving vehicle could be considered a form of distracted driving. Those in Wisconsin use their phones on 36 percent of all car trips in 2017, which is below the national median phone use rate. Drivers in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama used their phones during 47, 45 and 44 percent of car trips in 2017, which was the highest in the United States.

This data was obtained by reviewing the habits of 300,000 users of a safe driving app called Everdrive. In 2015, there were 3,477 fatalities related to distracted driving in the United States according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There were also 391,000 injuries because of distracted driving during that year. It is important to point out that there are many types of dangerous driving, many of which do not involve phone use. The NHTSA data included all instances of distracted driving such a eating while a car was moving.

Northeastern roads were considered the least safe in the country after taking hard braking and speeding into consideration. However, there was a correlation between bans on handheld devices and road safety. States such as Vermont and Hawaii have banned their use, which has led to low rates of cell phone usage.

Those who are hurt because of the actions taken by a reckless driver could be entitled to a financial award from that person. An attorney may be helpful in obtaining compensation for an injured victim. For instance, he or she may review cell phone records or physical evidence at the crash scene to establish that another driver was negligent in causing it. This may provide a victim with sufficient evidence to obtain a favorable outcome in court or during settlement negotiations.