Iowa Legal News

Cell phones and driving, will technology catch the offender?

How do I Prove The Other Driver was on his Cell Phone

How to Prove a Distracted Driver Caused Your Motorcycle or Car Crash in Iowa Introduction When a distracted driver causes a crash, evidence disappears quickly. Victims who act fast stand the best chance at proving liability and recovering damages. The First 48 Hours File a police report. 2. Document the scene with photos and witness statements. 3. Contact an attorney immediately to preserve cell phone evidence. 4. Avoid speaking with the other driver’s insurer before representation. Building the Case Attorneys use subpoenas to obtain phone records, expert analysis [...]

Accident caused by a driver using their cell phone.

Catching the Distracted Driver

Relax, and pay attention to your driving. And not your phone. Law Enforcement’s New Challenge: Catching Distracted Drivers in the Digital Age Introduction Catching drunk drivers is straightforward — breath tests, field sobriety, and visible signs. Distracted drivers? Not so simple. Iowa law enforcement faces a modern challenge: proving what someone was looking at before a crash. The Enforcement Gap Hands-free laws are only as strong as their enforcement. Officers often can’t see what’s in a driver’s hand, and without secondary offense authority, they [...]

Outer Banks, NC

Can you Resist the Ding?

Iowa Personal Injury Lawyer The Psychology of Distraction: Why Drivers Can’t Resist the Ding Introduction We think of distraction as a bad habit. Neuroscience shows it’s more like an addiction. Notifications deliver dopamine hits, conditioning drivers to check their phones — even at highway speeds. The Brain’s Reward System Every time your phone dings, your brain’s reward center activates. It’s the same chemical process behind gambling addiction. That makes ignoring notifications a fight against biology, not just willpower. The Myth of Multitasking Humans don’t multitask — [...]

From Buzzed to Busy

Proving Distracted Driving: The Evidence Playbook

Distracted driving is the new drunk driving. Introduction Proving distracted driving is no longer just about witness statements. In modern litigation, digital evidence tells the story. From cell phone logs to infotainment data, lawyers now have tools to prove when, how, and for how long a driver was distracted. Collecting Digital Evidence **Cell Phone Records:** Subpoenaed call logs, texts, and data timestamps can pinpoint distraction seconds before a crash. 2. **Infotainment Systems:** Many vehicles record Bluetooth connections, screen touches, and app usage. 3. **Black Boxes [...]

Accident caused by a driver using their cell phone.

From Buzzed to Busy: How Smartphones Became the New DUI

Cell phones and driving, a deadly combination Introduction In the 1980s, public outrage over drunk driving reshaped American culture. We created MADD, toughened DUI penalties, and shifted norms — drinking and driving became socially unacceptable. Yet four decades later, we face a new epidemic: phone-addicted drivers. Today, the phone in your hand is as dangerous as a drink in your cupholder. We’ve gone from buzzed to busy — and the result is the same: distracted, impaired, and deadly driving. The Modern DUI: Distraction [...]

Distracted driving is the new drunk driving.

Our 6-Day Look at Iowa’s Distracted Driving Crisis

Distracted driving is the new drunk driving. The Kickoff — Why This Conversation Matters Over the next six days, we’ll explore one of the deadliest and least discussed threats on Iowa’s roads: distracted driving.We all know about drunk driving. But today, your phone — not your drink — is the bigger danger. A single glance at a text, a quick scroll through social media, or a tap to change a playlist can send a car across the center line. On highways like [...]

Shifting sands of the Outer Banks

Smartphones Are the New Drunk Driver

Cell phone drivers are drunk drivers Smartphones Are the New Drunk Driver — Iowa’s Distracted Driving Crisis Every time a driver looks down to read a text, they take their eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. At 55 mph, that’s the length of a football field traveled blind. For motorcyclists, that split second can be the difference between a near miss and a fatal crash. Distracted drivers — those texting, scrolling, or fumbling with apps — are [...]

motorcycle accident lawyer West Des Moines, IA

The Five Most Common Risks for Motorcycle Riders — And How to Stay Safe on Iowa Roads

Central Iowa Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Motorcycles offer freedom, efficiency, and the pure joy of open-road riding — but they also expose riders to far greater risks than drivers in enclosed vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than passenger-vehicle occupants, per mile traveled. Whether you’re cruising I-80 through Polk County or winding along county roads in Madison or Dallas County, understanding the five most common risks motorcycle [...]

Iowa Personal Injury Lawyer

Can the Insurance Adjuster Demand I Give a Recorded Statement?

THEY CANNOT FORCE YOU TO DO ANYTHING A personal injury lawyer who handles dram shop cases No. But that might not be the right question. Which adjuster wants a recorded statement? Your insurance company’s adjuster? Or, the at-fault drivers? Because if you have insurance, it means you should provide a recorded statement. Because you have a contractual relationship with your own insurance company. With insurance policies there is a duty of cooperation. That means you must cooperate with your own insurance company’s [...]

Iowa personal injury attorney, Steve Lombardi

How do I prepare for an interview with a car accident lawyer?

Auto accident lawyer West Des Moines, IA It is difficult. It is not complicated nor is it time consuming. And this blog will not be long. You have been in a car accident, called a law firm, scheduled a time to talk to a lawyer and now you are wondering if there is something you need to do to be prepared. The answer is yes. But, with a little effort, and either a piece of paper, a pencil or pen [...]