NH Police Ramp Up Enforcement Against Distracted Driving
After a wave of fatal crashes and wrong-way collisions on I-95, New Hampshire State Police are cracking down. Drivers who aren't paying attention — even for a moment — are contributing to devastating accidents, and law enforcement is responding with increased patrols and a sharper focus on distracted driving.
The crackdown is more than a public safety campaign. For injured victims and grieving families, distracted driving is not just reckless — it’s often grounds for legal action.
'Don’t be nose-diving' — a father’s plea after tragedy
At a recent press conference, Kyle Simpson spoke about the loss of his 8-year-old son, Gabe, who was killed when a distracted driver rear-ended the family’s vehicle on Route 16 in Conway. Since that day in 2022, Simpson has carried a message: “I ask my fellow brothers and sisters of this world, when you’re driving, don’t be nose-diving.”
His words land even harder during April — National Distracted Driving Awareness Month — a time when safety campaigns are flooding the airwaves and police are stepping up enforcement. But the reality is, families like the Simpsons live with the consequences every month of the year.
Stories like this are a painful reminder of how quickly a moment of inattention can end in heartbreak — and why these cases must be taken seriously, not just by police, but by the civil justice system.
Distracted driving goes beyond texting
A lot of people think of texting and driving as the main issue — and it is a major one — but distracted driving includes many other behaviors that can easily lead to negligence claims. Under New Hampshire law, a driver who causes harm while not paying full attention to the road can be held responsible for the damages they cause.
Common types of distracted driving that involve negligence and can lead to a claim include:
- Using a Cell Phone: Whether texting, using GPS, checking social media, or taking a call, phone use while driving is one of the most common — and most provable — forms of distracted driving.
- Eating, Drinking, or Reaching for Something: Grabbing a coffee, unwrapping a sandwich, or reaching into the passenger seat are all actions that take a driver’s attention away from the road and can lead to crashes.
- Adjusting In-Car Controls: Changing the music, adjusting climate settings, or fiddling with touchscreen displays can all cause momentary distractions with serious consequences.
- Interacting with Passengers: Loud conversations, turning to speak to backseat passengers, or dealing with children while driving can all take a driver’s focus away from the road. These types of distractions are especially common with teen drivers.
Each of these behaviors can rise to the level of negligence, especially when they cause a collision. If an investigation reveals that the other driver was distracted in any of these ways, it can significantly strengthen a personal injury claim.
Holding distracted drivers accountable
Law enforcement has made it clear: patrols will be watching for signs of distracted driving, and violators will be held accountable. But when someone gets hurt, criminal penalties aren’t enough. Injured victims have the right to be made whole again by seeking compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term recovery costs.
In many distracted driving cases, proving liability can involve:
- Obtaining cell phone records.
- Securing witness statements.
- Reviewing dashcam or surveillance footage.
- Reconstructing the scene to determine driver behavior before impact.
This kind of evidence can be difficult to gather without legal help. That’s where a distracted driving accident lawyer steps in — building a strong case to show that the other driver’s inattention directly caused the crash and the resulting injuries.
Contact a New Hampshire distracted driving accident lawyer to protect your rights
Whether it’s a rear-end crash on a local road or a high-speed collision on the interstate, distracted driving claims lives and changes them forever. If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt, you deserve answers — and you deserve accountability. If you suspect the driver who hit you was distracted, don’t wait for the police report to tell the whole story. Our team can investigate further, identify signs of negligence, and help you pursue the full compensation you deserve.
You don’t have to face this alone. The trusted attorneys at Burns, Bryant, Cox, Rockefeller & Durkin P.A. are ready to stand with you and fight for the results you deserve. With offices in Dover and Portsmouth, we’ve been helping people in New Hampshire recover from serious accidents for over 150 years.
The stakes are high when you've been injured in an accident, but you don't have to navigate the aftermath alone. Make sure someone’s fighting for your best interests. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let our team help you find your way forward.
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