You were doing nothing wrong. A driver scrolling their phone, reaching for their coffee, or just not paying attention changed that in a second. In 2025, Colorado State Patrol investigated nearly 3,800 distracted driving crashes statewide. In El Paso County, distracted drivers cause roughly 25 percent of all intersection-related incidents — on the same roads you drive every day.
These crashes happen because someone made a choice. That choice has legal consequences, and Schofield & Green Law is here to help you act on them.
No upfront fees. No risk. We only get paid when you do.
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Colorado has some of the clearest distracted driving laws in the country, and they got significantly stronger on January 1, 2025. Under Colorado’s new Hands-Free Law (Senate Bill 24-065), it is now illegal for any driver to hold or manually use a mobile device while operating a vehicle, even while stopped at a red light or sitting in traffic.
That means no texting at a stoplight on Platte Avenue. No scrolling through emails in the drive-through on Academy Boulevard. No holding a phone to your ear anywhere on a public roadway in Colorado.
Violations carry real penalties. A first offense costs $75 and adds two license suspension points. A second offense within 24 months runs $150. A third runs $250. And if phone use behind the wheel causes an injury, the violation is elevated to a Class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense under Colorado law. That criminal classification matters when you are building a personal injury case against a driver who hurt you.
Distracted driving is broader than phone use, though. Any behavior that takes a driver’s eyes, hands, or mind off the road qualifies, including:
A driver glancing at their phone for five seconds at 55 mph travels the length of a football field without looking at the road. That is all it takes. The injuries that result from these crashes are often severe precisely because the distracted driver never braked, never swerved, and had no idea the collision was about to happen. Here is what the distracted driving accident attorneys at Schofield & Green Law see most often in Colorado Springs personal injury cases:
TBIs range from concussions to life-altering brain damage. Symptoms often surface days after the crash. The long-term impact on your ability to work and function needs to be fully accounted for in your claim.
Rear-end and T-bone crashes — the signature collision types of distracted driving — are leading causes of spinal damage, from disc herniations to paralysis. Long-term care, rehabilitation, and home modifications belong in your personal injury claim.
High-impact collisions with a driver who never slowed down often cause fractures in the arms, ribs, wrists, and legs. Surgery and extended physical therapy are common. The full cost of recovery goes well beyond the emergency room visit.
PTSD, anxiety behind the wheel, and depression are recognized consequences of serious crashes. Psychological trauma disrupts your work and relationships just as a physical injury does, and Colorado law allows you to seek compensation for it.
Distracted driving accidents can cause severe physical, emotional, and financial consequences. At Schofield & Green Law, we are committed to helping you recover the full compensation you deserve for your car accident. Our experienced distracted driving lawyers work tirelessly to ensure victims receive the financial support necessary for a full recovery. We guide you through the process of filing a personal injury claim to address negligence and seek justice.
Emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, specialist visits, and future treatment are all recoverable. We document every cost, including care you have not yet received but will need.
Lost income while you recover, plus reduced earning ability going forward, both factor into your claim. We work with financial experts to make sure the full picture is on the table.
The anxiety, the sleepless nights, the way your daily life changed after the crash — these are real damages under Colorado law, and we build the documentation to support them.
If your injuries affected your ability to show up as a partner or parent, Colorado law recognizes that harm. We fight to include it where it applies.
Schofield & Green Law wants to extend our sincerest apologies for the avoidable event you’ve experienced. Distracted driving is far too common in Colorado Springs and is detrimental, and can leave you injured, especially if you’ve suffered long-lasting effects or worse. Navigating the next detailed steps – police reports, medical bills, insurance adjusters, and complex legal processes can be overwhelming. Follow these important steps to protect yourself and your right to compensation through a strong personal injury claim.
When you partner with Schofield & Green Law, you gain more than legal counsel—you gain a team committed to your recovery and your rights. We don’t get paid until you do, so all the risk is on us. Let us carry the legal burden while you focus on healing.
Proving liability in distracted driving accidents can be challenging, especially when insurance companies often offer low settlements or shift blame. At Schofield & Green Law, we fight to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve. We gather key evidence and work with experts to build a strong case.
Consulting a distracted driving accident lawyer can significantly help in filing claims, understanding your legal rights, and navigating the complexities of personal injury lawsuits following a distracted driving incident. Here’s how we establish liability in careless driving cases:
You did not cause this crash. A driver who was not paying attention did. Now you are dealing with medical bills, insurance calls, missed work, and stress that follows you long after the collision itself.
Andrea Schofield has spent decades helping Colorado Springs accident victims hold distracted drivers accountable. She knows Colorado’s Hands-Free Law, how to pull phone records, how to work with accident reconstruction experts, and how to build cases that push insurance companies toward fair settlements rather than delay tactics.
She takes fewer cases than a bigger firm — by design. Every client gets direct access to their attorney, not a paralegal and a callback queue. If a distracted driver hurt you, Andrea is the attorney who will actually fight for you.
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As part of our mission to guide and inform our clients, we regularly publish blogs that break down key topics related to personal injury law. From understanding your rights after an accident to navigating the claims process, our articles are designed to provide clear, helpful information so you can feel confident and empowered every step of the way.
Every person who reaches out to Schofield & Green Law starts with a free case evaluation. During this consultation, we’ll go over the facts of your case, assess the evidence, and determine whether you have a viable claim. If we believe you have a strong case, we’ll move forward with the necessary steps to fight for your compensation.
Because we solely work on a contingency fee basis (which means you don’t pay unless we win), you can trust that we’ll only take on cases we believe have a high chance of success. We are fully invested in your case and will work diligently to ensure you get the best possible outcome. If we don’t think you have a strong case, we’ll be upfront and guide you through your options moving forward.
The length of a distracted driving case can vary depending on the complexity and severity of the accident. On average, it can take several months to a year to reach a resolution.
Factors like gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, and any required medical treatments all contribute to the timeline. We will keep you informed at every stage of the process.
More than people realize. In 2025, Colorado State Patrol investigated 3,778 crashes caused by distracted driving statewide — making it the second leading cause of crashes in Colorado. CDOT’s own data shows distracted drivers are involved in up to 11 percent of all traffic fatalities, and smartphone use is implicated in roughly 25 percent of intersection-related incidents in Colorado Springs specifically.
Nationally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 3,275 deaths and over 324,000 injuries from distraction-related crashes in 2023 alone.
Texting and driving is estimated to be six times more dangerous than drunk driving — and yet CDOT’s 2024 Driver Behavior Report found that 77 percent of Colorado drivers admitted to using their phones behind the wheel. If a texting driver caused your crash, you are far from alone, and you have every right to hold them accountable.
The next step is to schedule a free consultation. During this meeting, we’ll evaluate the details of your case, explore your legal options, and answer any questions. If you decide to move forward, we’ll begin gathering evidence, talking to witnesses, and working on your behalf to pursue justice and fair compensation.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by a distracted driving accident, don’t wait any longer to take action. Contact Schofield & Green Law for a free consultation, and let us guide you through the process of securing the compensation you deserve. With our no-win, no-fee promise, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Reach out today to begin your path toward healing and justice.