A distracted driver doesn’t need to look away from the road for long to cause a serious crash. At 55 miles per hour, a vehicle travels the length of a football field in about three seconds. That’s all it takes.
On Minot’s busiest corridors, including US-83, Broadway, and the intersections around the Minot Air Force Base, distracted driving crashes happen every day, and the people who pay the price are rarely the ones who caused them.
Lowe Law Group helps injured people in Minot and Ward County hold distracted drivers accountable. We’ve recovered over $550 million for clients across North Dakota, and we know what it takes to prove fault and pursue full compensation.
Your consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we win.
The official numbers are troubling enough. According to the North Dakota Vision Zero program, there were 936 distracted driving-related crashes in North Dakota in 2024 alone. Nationally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that distracted driving claimed 3,200 lives in 2024 and was a factor in 8% of all fatal crashes across the country.
Both figures are likely underestimations. Because distraction is difficult to verify at a crash scene, experts believe the actual number of incidents is significantly higher than what gets recorded.
For injured people in Minot, what matters most is this: distracted driving crashes are not accidents in any meaningful sense. They are the result of a choice. When that choice injures you, the driver who made it can be held legally and financially responsible.
Distracted driving is any activity that pulls a driver’s attention away from the road. Researchers generally group distractions into three categories:
Visual distractions take a driver’s eyes off the road. Examples include looking at a phone screen or glancing at a crash scene.
Manual distractions take a driver’s hands off the wheel. Examples include reaching for food or adjusting the radio.
Cognitive distractions pull a driver’s focus away from driving. Examples include daydreaming or having an intense conversation with a passenger.
Texting while driving is considered the most dangerous form of distraction because it combines all three at once. But a phone doesn’t have to be involved for a driver to be legally liable for the crash they cause. Eating, grooming, adjusting climate controls, programming a GPS, attending to passengers, or simply losing focus are all forms of distracted driving that can form the basis of a personal injury claim. These distractions commonly cause drivers to miss slowing or stopped traffic ahead of them, which is why so many distracted driving cases involve rear-end impacts. Our Minot rear-end accident attorneys handle these cases regularly.
If another driver’s inattention injured you, the cause of that inattention matters less than the fact that it happened.
North Dakota has specific laws targeting distracted driving, and understanding them matters for your case.
According to the North Dakota Department of Transportation, text messaging is prohibited for all drivers and carries a $100 fine under NDCC 39-08-23.
Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using any electronic communication device while driving under NDCC 39-08-24. This stricter standard reflects how often distraction plays a role in teen crashes. If a young driver caused your accident, a Minot teen driver accident lawyer can help you build a claim around both the distraction and their inexperience. And under an expanded law that took effect August 1, 2017, any driver who is distracted in a way that impairs their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and commits a traffic violation in the process can be assessed an additional $100 citation under NDCC 39-08-25.
These laws matter in a civil injury claim. If the driver who hit you was cited for distracted driving, that citation is powerful evidence of fault. But a citation is not required to pursue compensation. If the evidence shows a driver was distracted, whether by a phone, food, or anything else, that is grounds for a personal injury claim, regardless of whether law enforcement issued a ticket.
Proving distracted driving is harder than proving impairment. There is no chemical test for inattention. By the time investigators arrive, the moment of distraction is already gone. That’s why building a distracted driving case requires moving quickly and knowing exactly what to look for.
Lowe Law Group pursues every available source of evidence.
Our forensic reconstruction team analyzes the physical evidence to establish what happened and counter attempts to shift blame onto you.
Timing matters. Phone records that show activity in the seconds before a crash can be among the most compelling evidence in a distracted driving case. Obtaining those records requires legal process, and that process needs to start before the evidence disappears.
Our Minot Personal Injury attorneys also know how carriers build their defense against distraction claims, because several of them spent years doing exactly that. That experience shapes how we investigate and how we push back.
No two cases are the same, and the value of yours depends on the specific facts of your injury and how it has affected your life. That said, there are two broad categories of compensation available to injured people in North Dakota.
Economic damages cover losses with a measure dollar value: medical bills, follow-up care, physical therapy, lost wages during recovery, and reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term. In serious cases, future medical costs can represent the largest portion of a claim.
Non-economic damages cover losses that don’t come with a receipt: pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. These damages don’t come with a receipt, but they can be substantial, particularly when injuries are severe or result in lasting limitations.
The severity and permanence of your injuries are the biggest factors in determining case value. An injury that heals in weeks carries a different value than one that requires surgery, ongoing treatment, or leaves lasting limitations.
One of the most common and costly mistakes injured people make is accepting an early offer from an insurer before the full extent of their damages is known. Once you settle, you cannot go back. Before you sign anything, talk to an attorney.
The steps you take in the hours after a crash can significantly affect your case. Here’s what matters most.
Call 911 and seek medical attention immediately. Even if you feel fine, get evaluated. Symptoms from serious injuries often don’t appear until hours or days after a crash, and a gap in medical care gives insurers grounds to dispute your claim.
Document everything you can. Photograph the scene, vehicle positions, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Get names and contact information for any witnesses.
Note signs of distraction. If you observed the other driver looking at a phone, eating, or otherwise not paying attention before the crash, tell the responding officer and write it down while it’s fresh.
Do not give a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly. You are not required to give a recorded statement, and doing so before speaking with an attorney can seriously damage your claim.
Contact an attorney before accepting any offer. Phone records and other evidence that can prove distraction have a short window. The sooner we get involved, the stronger your position in these cases.
Distracted driving cases aren’t always straightforward. Carriers dispute distraction claims aggressively, and without the right evidence and legal strategy, injured people often walk away with far less than they’re owed.
Several of our attorneys spent years representing carriers and insurers before joining Lowe Law Group. They know how distraction claims get challenged, and they use that knowledge to build cases that hold up.
Our forensic reconstruction team establishes what happened before evidence can be disputed or lost. Our in-house medical director, Dr. Andrew Georgi, documents your injuries in a way that stands up when insurers question the severity or long-term impact of what you’ve been through.
As trusted Minot Car Accident lawyers, we have a local Minot office and a track record of over $550 million recovered for injured clients across North Dakota, with a 99% win rate. You pay nothing unless we win, and our 30-day risk-free guarantee means you can walk away within the first 30 days with no obligation. We’re available 24/7.
Look for a firm with experience specifically in distracted driving cases, the resources to obtain phone records and other digital evidence, and attorneys who understand how insurers defend these claims. Lowe Law Group has a local Minot office, a forensic reconstruction team, and former insurance defense attorneys on staff.
Contact a distracted driver injury attorney in Minot as soon as possible. Evidence like phone records and camera footage has a short window, and the other side begins building its defense immediately after a crash.
Yes. A texting and driving accident lawyer in Minot can help you pursue compensation from the at-fault driver for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Any cell phone use that contributes to a crash can form the basis of a claim. As a cell phone accident lawyer serving Minot and Ward County, we pursue all available evidence of distraction, not just texting.
Phone records don’t stay available indefinitely. The evidence that proves a driver was texting or using their phone at the moment of impact requires legal process to obtain, and that window closes faster than most people realize. Every day without representation is a day the other side spends building their case instead of yours.
Before you accept any offer or give any statement, talk to us. Call Lowe Law Group at (801) 900-4681 any time, day or night, for a free case evaluation. There’s no fee unless we win, and you have 30 days to decide if we’re the right fit with zero obligation. You can also contact us here.
Your priority now is to heal. Ours is to win your case. Here’s our 3-Step Approach:
Let us listen to your story. We’ll provide a free, no pressure case evaluation.
Our team handles everything: the legal process, gathering paperwork, reviewing your medical treatment, and more.
We win your case and maximize your compensation or we don’t get paid, guaranteed.
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I was hit on my MOTORCYCLE by a PODS TRUCK in June, yep, you read that right, PODS TRUCK. I was fortunate to walk away, but knew I needed a lawyer for an accident of this magnitude. Now, let me start by saying I don’t trust lawyers, never have. But had to put my differences aside and trust this GROUP of LAWYERS from a different state to handle my affairs. RIGHT AWAY, from the beginning, MARISSA REED, WAS A ROCKSTAR!!! Made me feel at ease and answered all of my ridiculous questions like a VETERAN. Now, this has taken almost 9 months to complete, and it was well worth the wait. Marissa Reed took my settlement to a PLACE WHERE ONLY EAGLES SOAR BABY!! I GOT WAAAAY MORE than expected all thanks to the LOWE LAW GROUP AND FIERY MARISSA REED. Thank you Marissa, for ALL YOU DID FOR ME, AND ALL MY STUPID QUESTIONS. I’m alive, have a HEFTY settlement to spend and am more than thankful for these LAWYERS!! MY ATTITUDE HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER ON THEM! HELL YA!!
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Washington
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I was hit by a trailer that crossed the median while I was driving on the highway which not only destroyed my car, but I have had to deal with a concussion, neck and back pain along with other PTSD issues. Life happens, some events alter your life, and it can be difficult to adjust. Lowe Law Group is the absolute best. If you want someone who’s gonna be in your corner and help you out big time. I HIGHLY recommend them. They made it so much easier, and they don’t care just about money. They want you to be able to get the help you need to recover. Specifically, James Brandenburg has been so helpful and relatable. Where other companies have made me feel just like a number, he has made me feel like a friend.
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Idaho
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I have been working with Lowe Law Group since May 2023. I was in a terrible head on collision and have been undergoing coming up on 2 years of medical treatment. I have had 3 case managers throughout the 2 years and have been working closely with Cassi these last few months and she has been amazing. She keeps me updated on whats going on with my case and is doing everything in her power to ensure the best outcome. She has come up with ideas my other two case managers had not that will benefit me in the long run! Its so nice to be able to feel taken care of and having a team backing you.
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I was in my car waiting at a stoplight when I was rear ended hitting my head, giving me whiplash, and a concussion. It also reaggravated other injuries I was making progress on. Cyra at Lowe Law Group was great jumping right into my case. She was professional and did well in keeping me informed of the process and updating me as needed. There were some challenges in dealing with the culpable party but Lowe Law I believe was able to get me the best settlement possible given all the circumstances and would recommend to anyone who has been involved in an accident.
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I cannot say enough, good things about Heather at Lowe Law Group! From the very beginning, she was a beacon of kind…
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After one of the worst things that has happened to my daughter or me, Harmony was able help me work throug…
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Being in a car accident and dealing with everything from the car damage to the injuries and everything in between is very…
Being in a car accident and dealing with everything from the car damage to the injuries and everything in between is very stressful. I am so grateful for everyone at Lowe Law for helping me every step of the way. Kaitlyn kept me updated on the progress of the case and answered all the questions I had. Jason and Pete are very knowledgeable and explained each step and helped guide me throughout the process. I would highly recommend them to anyone who has been in a car accident.
Thanks to Ethan for his gentle persuasion and persistent efforts.
…
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Thank You Olga Baranova ( I mention you first and foremost due to the fact you were my case manager, and whom I had prima…
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I answered an advertisement for this law group. I had fired the first attorney. So I retained Lowe Law Group, and Maris…
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