How Michigan’s Hands-Free Cell Phone Law Is Preventing Accidents and Saving Lives

As long-term proponents of traffic safety, and to recognize April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the personal injury attorneys here at Mike Morse Law Firm would like to offer some well-deserved applause to our state legislators who last spring finally decided to put a hands-free cell phone law on the books in the Great Lakes State. Now when you illegally hold your phone and cause an accident while driving, you’ll be subject to fines of up to $500, and face up to 24 grueling hours of community service work to pay for your crime.

We truly believe that since June 2023, when that new hands-free law took effect, countless lives have been saved and even more injuries have been averted statewide. While it took the state legislature some time to have this worthwhile law enacted, we’re glad they eventually got it done, and we’re equally pleased they designed it so that holding a phone for just about any reason while driving is a primary offense – meaning law enforcement officers don’t need an excuse to pull over and ticket drivers who are “caught with their hands down” using their cell phones behind the wheel! The bottom line is that this is truly a law to be celebrated, and we’re grateful that Michigan has joined nearly every other state across America in taking strong action against driver distraction.

Free Cell Phone Holders,Compliments of Mike Morse Law Firm!

In fact, we believe in the value and importance of this law so strongly that we’re putting our money where our mouth is… and giving away FREE cell phone holders to Michigan drivers (while supplies last)!

As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month in the month April, we are giving away 1000 cellphone vehicle holders at Buddy’s Pizza, 1565 Broadway, across from Comerica Park on Sunday, April 14th, starting at 11:00 AM. Attendees at the event will not only receive a free cell phone holder but also a voucher for one free four-square cheese pizza with any purchase, courtesy of Buddy’s Pizza.

At the Mike Morse Law Firm, we’ve long been an advocate for road safety and believe that education and awareness are key to reducing these alarming statistics. “Distracted driving is entirely preventable, yet it continues to cause devastating accidents and loss of life,” says our founder, Mike Morse. “By providing cell phone holders and raising awareness, we hope to encourage drivers to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.”

Why is Supporting the Hands-Free Law so Important?

Every year there are literally hundreds of thousands of car accidents across Michigan – nearly 240,000 in 2022 (the most recent year for which complete statistics are available). While there’s no way to determine exactly how many of those incidents are related to drivers who were distracted by cell phones, it’s a good bet that many thousands of injuries and deaths result from those distractions. We do know that anecdotally we frequently hear from accident victims that the person responsible for their pain and suffering was observed using a cell phone in the moments or seconds leading up to the collision.

If you’re like us, you probably notice drivers holding their phones just about every time you get into your vehicle to go to work, to take the kids to school, to enjoy date night with your special someone, or to head to the grocery store. These irresponsible people are taking your life into their hands. It simply has to stop. The new law is a good first step in making that happen, and research shows that hands-free laws nationwide are already doing their part to help reduce injuries and fatalities among drivers across America.

What’s the Status of Hands-Free Cell Phone Laws in Other States?

If you’re like us, you’ll be happy to know that most states already have hands-free laws in place to protect innocent motorists from distracted drivers. In fact, until recently, only two states (Missouri and Montana) still hadn’t adopted laws to reduce distracted driving, and last August Missouri finally joined the list of states banning the hand-held use of cell phones, making Montana the only remaining holdout that doesn’t restrict drivers from texting behind the wheel. Sadly, that means when you travel through “Big Sky Country” you’re taking the chance of running into texting drivers – who are 23 times more likely to get into an accident, and six times more dangerous than drunk drivers.

Keep Your Hands on the Wheel – Not Your Phone!

To those of you who are already doing your part to avoid being distracted by your cell phone while driving, please accept our gratitude. You’re helping keep Michigan – and your car’s precious passengers – safe and sound, and our free cell phone holder is a fitting reward for your responsible actions! To those who haven’t yet fully embraced the new law, we invite you to pick up a free cell phone holder (and some pizza) that can help you change your behavior and perhaps avoid finding yourself someday in a tragic situation you’ll regret for as long as you live. And finally, if you or someone you love are ever hurt by a careless, irresponsible, or distracted driver anywhere in Michigan, you know who you can depend on to be your strongest friend and ally in a court of law: the personal injury attorneys at Mike Morse Law Firm. Call us at 855-MIKE-WINS (855-645-3946) anytime and we’ll be there for you right away.

Content checked by Mike Morse, personal injury attorney with Mike Morse Injury Law Firm. Mike Morse is the founder of Mike Morse Law Firm, the largest personal injury law firm in Michigan. Since being founded in 1995, Mike Morse Law Firm has grown to over 200 employees, served 40,000 clients, and collected more than $1.5 billion for victims of auto, truck and motorcycle accidents. The main office is in Southfield, MI but you can also find us in Detroit, Sterling Heights and many other locations.