Georgia’s New Hands-Free Law: How It Affects Car Accident Claims

Key Takeaways

• Georgia’s Hands-Free Law (HB 673) prohibits holding a phone while driving.
• Violations of this law can strengthen your personal injury claim after a crash.
• Police reports and cellphone data often prove fault in distracted driving cases.
• Hines Law uses phone records and eyewitness testimony to hold distracted drivers accountable.

Table of Contents

1. What Is Georgia’s Hands-Free Law?
2. How the Law Affects Fault in Car Accidents
3. Using Hands-Free Violations in Personal Injury Cases
4. Distracted Driving Trends in Metro Atlanta
5. How to Prove the Other Driver Was Distracted
6. Let Hines Law Build Your Case

What Is Georgia’s Hands-Free Law?

Since July 1, 2018, Georgia law prohibits drivers from:

• Holding or supporting a phone with their hands
• Reading, writing, or sending texts
• Watching or recording video

This applies even at red lights and stop signs. Violators face fines and points on their license — and civil liability if they cause a crash.

How the Law Affects Fault in Car Accidents

If someone hits you while texting or holding a phone, it’s considered negligence per se — meaning they broke a safety law. That strengthens your claim for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

Using Hands-Free Violations in Personal Injury Cases

We regularly use:

• Police citations as evidence of fault
• Witness statements about phone use
• Phone logs and GPS data (subpoenaed when necessary)

In Clayton and Gwinnett Counties, where traffic is congested and distracted driving is common, these details can mean the difference between denial and full compensation.

Distracted Driving Trends in Metro Atlanta

According to Georgia DOT data:

• Distracted driving contributed to more than 50,000 crashes annually
• Young drivers in areas like Marietta, Stone Mountain, and Lawrenceville are most at risk.
• Spanish-speaking clients in Hall County report frequent near-misses from texting drivers.

How to Prove the Other Driver Was Distracted

You can strengthen your case by:

• Taking photos of the other driver holding a phone
• Getting witness info at the scene
• Requesting the 911 call log and accident report

Let Hines Law Build Your Case

If a distracted driver hurt you, let our attorneys pursue the maximum compensation under Georgia law. We know how to get phone records, analyze crash reports, and present strong evidence — and we offer services in Spanish and English.

¡Hablamos español! Schedule your free consultation today.