A guide from The León Law Firm, P.C. explains how texting is proven after a Texas car crash, using phone records, crash reports, vehicle data and witnesses, and why an injury claim can move forward under the state’s texting ban even without a ticket.
Sugar Land, United States, October 27, 2026 /NewsNetwork/ -- SUGAR LAND, Texas — Drivers who cause a crash while texting rarely admit it. A guide from The León Law Firm, P.C. explains how texting is usually proven after a Texas car crash, what the state’s texting ban says and why the exact timing of phone activity often decides the case. The guide is available at https://theleonlawfirm.com/driving-while-texting/
Distraction remains a serious problem on Texas roads. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, distracted driving caused 86,384 crashes in Texas in 2025. More than 2,437 people were seriously injured, and 299 people died. TxDOT lists texting, talking and glancing at a cell phone among the distractions behind those crashes.
Texas has banned texting behind the wheel statewide since September 1, 2017. Under Texas Transportation Code § 545.4251, a driver commits an offense by using a portable wireless communication device to read, write or send an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped. The law lists several defenses, including hands-free use, GPS navigation and calling for emergency help. A first offense carries a fine of $25 to $99. If the driver causes the death or serious bodily injury of another person, the offense becomes a Class A misdemeanor.
The guide stresses that a traffic ticket and an injury claim are separate matters. The ticket is between the driver and the state. The injury claim is about who pays for medical bills, lost income and other losses, and it can move forward whether or not police issued a citation.
Proof usually comes from records, lined up against the exact moment of impact. The guide describes five common sources of evidence:
Phone and carrier records, which show when messages and data were sent and received and can be requested during a lawsuit.
The phone itself, which a forensic review can examine for activity at specific times.
The crash timeline, built from the CR-3 crash report, 911 call records and the vehicle’s event data recorder, which captures speed and braking before impact.
Witnesses and video, including other drivers, passengers and nearby cameras.
Statements the driver made at the scene, to police or to an insurance adjuster.
Timing matters most. A message sent ten minutes before a crash tells a different story than one sent seconds before impact. In the guide, founding attorney Carlos A. León points out that phones are often replaced and data can be deleted, so a written request to preserve evidence should go out early. The firm’s step-by-step guide on what to do after a crash covers the first days in more detail: https://theleonlawfirm.com/what-to-do-if-you-are-in-a-car-accident/
Deadlines also apply. Most Texas injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash, and an injured person’s recovery is reduced by any share of fault assigned to them under the state’s proportionate responsibility rules.
More information about the firm’s car accident practice is available at https://theleonlawfirm.com/car-accident-lawyer/
About The León Law Firm, P.C.: The León Law Firm, P.C. is a bilingual personal injury firm based in Sugar Land, Texas, founded by attorney Carlos A. León. The firm represents injured clients throughout Texas on a contingency-fee basis, in both English and Spanish. Learn more at https://theleonlawfirm.com/about-law-firm/
Contact Info:
Name: Carlos Leon
Email: Send Email
Organization: The León Law Firm, P.C.
Address: 1 Sugar Creek Center Boulevard, Sugar Land, TX 77478, United States
Website: https://theleonlawfirm.com
Source: NewsNetwork
Release ID: 89207579
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