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How Dangerous Is Texting and Driving in Lakewood, CO?

Posted on April 3, 2025 in

Texting behind the wheel in Lakewood is more dangerous than most people realize. Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accident injuries throughout Colorado, especially in traffic-heavy areas. Just a few seconds of looking down can cause a crash with life-changing consequences.

Texting and Driving Contributes to a High Rate of Crashes in Lakewood

In Lakewood and throughout Jefferson County, texting while driving has become one of the leading factors in distracted driving crashes. Local reports have tied mobile phone use to an uptick in rear-end collisions, red-light violations, and lane departures, especially in areas with heavy traffic flow. Multi-lane intersections, school zones, and road construction zones only make things worse.

When drivers take their eyes off the road, even for a few seconds, they often miss brake lights, crossing pedestrians, or sudden traffic changes. Colorado law prohibits texting while driving under C.R.S. § 42-4-239, and penalties range from fines to points on your license.

Texting and Driving Contributes to a High Rate of Crashes in Lakewood

If you drive through Lakewood regularly, you already know how busy the roads can get. When someone takes their eyes off the road to check a text, it puts everyone around them at risk. Crashes caused by texting happen most often at busy intersections, in school zones, and along multi-lane streets like Colfax and Wadsworth.

These crashes are not just bad luck. Colorado makes texting while driving illegal because it leads to real, avoidable harm. If you were in a crash and suspect the other driver was distracted, the law is on your side.

The Dangers of Texting Go Beyond Just the Crash Itself

When someone is texting, they are not watching the road, and they are not ready to stop. That means they are more likely to hit you at full speed, which makes your injuries worse and your recovery longer. You might be left dealing with pain, car repairs, and medical bills, all because they chose to look down at their phone.

Colorado’s comparative fault rule, found in C.R.S. § 13-21-111, means that even if more than one driver made a mistake, a distracted driver can still be held financially responsible through a personal injury claim. If you are trying to figure out who was at fault, texting often plays a bigger role than people realize.

Common Injuries Caused by Texting Behind the Wheel

If you were hit by someone who was texting, there is a good chance they never saw you coming. That kind of crash can lead to spinal injuries, broken bones, or crushed limbs, all injuries that take time, treatment, and support to recover from. These are not minor bumps. They are life-changing catastrophic injuries, and you deserve to have them taken seriously.

The Risk of Delayed or Undetected Brain Injuries After a Crash

Traumatic brain injuries and head trauma do not always show up right away, especially if the crash felt like a low-speed hit. You might have walked away from the scene thinking you were fine, only to feel dizzy, foggy, or nauseous hours later.

If the other driver was texting and never hit the brakes, the force of that impact could have caused more damage than you think. These symptoms should never be ignored, and if they started after the crash, they need to be part of your claim.