Pennsylvania's hands-free law could reshape crash claims

Paul Miller’s Law is now fully enforced in Pennsylvania, and the biggest effect may come after a crash, where cellphone evidence can help prove fault and strengthen injury claims. The law bans handheld phone use even at red lights or in traffic, while keeping hands-free technology legal. Why it matters: - Paul Miller’s Law may change more than traffic enforcement in Pennsylvania. - Evidence of distracted driving can now play a bigger role in civil claims after crashes. - In serious injury and fatal cases, the law may also affect criminal investigations and penalties. What happened: - Pennsylvania’s hands-free driving law entered full enforcement on June 5, 2026. - The law bars drivers from holding or supporting a cellphone or other interactive mobile device while operating a vehicle. - The restriction applies even when a driver is stopped at a red light or stuck in traffic. - Hands-free use through Bluetooth, voice commands, and integrated vehicle systems remains legal. - PennDOT reported more than 11,000 Pennsylvania crashes involving distracted drivers in 2023, more than alcohol-related crashes that year. The details: - The law is named for 21-year-old Paul Miller, who was killed in 2010 after a distracted tractor-trailer driver reached for a cellphone and crossed multiple lanes before striking Miller’s vehicle. - Miller’s mother, Eileen, spent more than a decade pushing for stronger distracted-driving laws in Pennsylvania with lawmakers, safety groups, and crash victims’ families. - Pennsylvania signed the law in 2024 before full enforcement began this month. - The new rules allow police to cite drivers for handheld phone use even when the vehicle is not moving. - In fatal crashes, a conviction for homicide by vehicle tied to a distracted-driving violation can carry additional prison time beyond the underlying sentence. - GLS Injury Law says cellphone records and other digital evidence can help establish what happened in the moments before a crash. - The firm says preserving that evidence quickly matters in significant injury cases. Between the lines: - The law creates a clearer safety standard that attorneys can use to argue negligence when distraction contributes to a collision. - That could make it easier for crash victims to seek full compensation by showing fault more directly. - The statute also gives investigators another concrete violation to examine in catastrophic and fatal crashes. - GLS Injury Law says the law may also pressure drivers to change behavior over time. What’s next: - Drivers should expect handheld phone use to remain a citation risk during everyday stops and traffic delays. - People involved in crashes where distraction is suspected should document observations and seek legal guidance quickly. - GLS Injury Law says the law’s long-term value may be fewer distraction-related tragedies on Pennsylvania roads. The bottom line: - Paul Miller’s Law is more than a traffic fine. In Pennsylvania crash cases, it may become a key piece of evidence for proving distraction, fault, and accountability.