Paul Miller’s Law now carries a financial penalty for prohibited handheld device use while driving in Pennsylvania. Beginning June 5, 2026, a conviction brings a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees. The restriction also applies when a driver is temporarily stopped at a red light or in traffic, according to PennDOT’s 2026 enforcement announcement.
If a distracted driver injured you in Philadelphia, your questions likely go beyond the ticket. You may need medical treatment, help paying bills, and answers about how to hold that driver accountable. Understanding the law can help you discuss what happened with an attorney and take practical steps to protect your claim.
What changed under Paul Miller’s Law in 2026
Pennsylvania’s hands-free driving law took effect on June 5, 2025. During its first year, violations of this provision carried written warnings. The June 2026 change brought the $50 fine and additional costs into effect; it did not mark the first day the handheld restriction existed.
PennDOT’s explanation of Paul Miller’s Law also identifies it as a primary offense. Police may stop a driver for the prohibited device use itself, without first observing another traffic violation. These rules apply throughout Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia.
Enforcement has already occurred. Pennsylvania State Police reported 694 citations related to Paul Miller’s Law during Operation Hands Off, conducted June 8–10, 2026. Those figures cover that three-day PSP operation, not all Pennsylvania agencies or Philadelphia alone. The PSP announcement also notes that its figures may change as data is finalized.
The law honors Paul Miller Jr., who died in a 2010 crash involving a tractor-trailer whose driver reached for a phone. His mother, Eileen Miller, advocated for stronger distracted driving laws. That history, described in PennDOT’s announcement, reflects the human consequences behind the new enforcement rules.
What the Pennsylvania hands-free law prohibits
The core restriction appears in 75 Pa.C.S. § 3316.1. Prohibited use includes:
- Holding an interactive mobile device with at least one hand or supporting it with another part of the body.
- Dialing or answering by pressing more than one button.
- Reaching for the device in a way that takes the driver out of a seated, seat-belt-restrained driving position.
The law reaches beyond texting. A driver holding a phone for a call or to look at navigation can violate the handheld restriction. Its definition of driving includes temporary stops caused by traffic, signals, or other momentary delays.
For someone injured near a Philadelphia intersection, this distinction can matter. A driver’s phone use while waiting for the light may be relevant to the sequence of events before a collision. Share what you or a passenger observed with your attorney, including where your vehicle was and when the other vehicle began moving.
Hands-free technology remains permitted, as PennDOT explains. Drivers still need to pay attention to the road and operate their vehicles safely. An injury investigation should consider the driver’s conduct throughout the events leading to the crash.
How the law relates to a Philadelphia car accident claim
A traffic case addresses the violation and its penalty. A personal injury claim addresses the harm you suffered and whether someone else’s negligent driving caused it. The $50 fine does not set the amount of compensation available for your injuries.
Your attorney can examine how the other driver’s conduct contributed to the collision and document the resulting losses. That work may include reviewing the vehicles’ movements, witness accounts, available recordings, and your medical records. The goal is to establish what happened and how the crash affected your health and daily life.
You can seek advice even if the police did not issue a ticket. You also do not need to identify the exact app the other driver used before speaking with a lawyer. Start with the information you have; an attorney can assess what additional investigation is appropriate.
Our Philadelphia car accident lawyers can review the circumstances and explain the claims and insurance benefits that may apply. A consultation gives you a chance to discuss the collision, your treatment, and the questions you need answered first.
Evidence to preserve after a suspected distracted driving crash
You do not have to conduct an investigation from the roadside. Your safety and medical care come first. If you are able, save the information already available to you and let your attorney know about other potential sources.
Photos and recordings
Keep original photographs of the vehicles, damage, surrounding roadway, and visible injuries. Save any dashcam recording you have, including the period before and after impact. Let your attorney know if you noticed cameras on nearby businesses, residences, or vehicles so they can assess whether relevant footage may be available.
For a Philadelphia crash, record the nearest intersection, direction of travel, and approximate time. Those details can help identify the right location when several businesses or intersections are nearby. Preserve files in their original form and keep a backup.
Witness information and observations
If someone stopped to help, ask for their name and contact information when it is safe to do so. Tell your attorney if a passenger or witness saw the other driver holding a phone, looking down, or reaching away from the driving position. Give the information you remember without trying to reconstruct details you did not observe.
Records your attorney can seek
An attorney can evaluate whether relevant electronic records, vehicle information, or business records should be preserved and requested through appropriate legal procedures. The useful sources depend on the vehicles and circumstances involved. If the other vehicle displayed a delivery company name or rideshare identification, preserve that information too.
Our guide to evidence that may help a car accident case explains other materials worth discussing. Early contact gives your legal team an opportunity to identify evidence that may require prompt attention.
Practical steps after a Philadelphia collision
Get medical care and keep your treatment information together
Call 911 when emergency assistance is needed. Seek appropriate medical evaluation after an injury, follow your provider’s recommendations, and report new or worsening symptoms. Your healthcare team should guide decisions about treatment and returning to work or other activities.
Keep discharge instructions, appointment information, prescriptions, and bills in one folder. If you need help arranging transportation or managing paperwork while recovering, ask a trusted family member to assist. Let your attorney know about practical barriers affecting your access to care.
Obtain the crash report
For crashes investigated by Philadelphia police, the City’s Department of Records offers a process to request a crash report, including an online request option. Keep the incident information provided by the responding officer. If another agency investigated, ask your attorney where that agency’s report should be requested.
You can contact a lawyer while the report is still pending. Bring what you already have, and identify documents you are waiting to receive.
Keep track of expenses and missed work
Save receipts for prescriptions, medical equipment, and other crash-related expenses. Keep employer correspondence about missed shifts, leave, or changes in your duties. These records help your attorney understand the financial impact alongside the medical evidence.
Get help with insurance communications
Notify the appropriate insurer promptly and keep claim numbers and correspondence together. Ask your attorney to explain requests for statements, authorizations, or signatures so you understand what is being requested. Have any proposed settlement or release reviewed before agreeing to it, especially while your treatment needs are still developing.
Medical bills and compensation after distracted driving
Pennsylvania auto insurance can involve several sources of benefits. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department explains that medical benefits coverage pays medical bills for people covered by the policy. An attorney can help identify the applicable coverage and coordinate that question with your claim against the responsible party.
Depending on your injuries, coverage, and circumstances, compensation may address:
- Medical treatment, rehabilitation, and reasonably anticipated future care.
- Lost wages and an injury’s effect on your ability to earn a living.
- Pain, suffering, and disruption of daily life, when recoverable under applicable law.
- Property damage and other recoverable crash-related expenses.
Bring your policy information to the consultation. Pennsylvania’s full tort and limited tort options can affect available claims, so your attorney should review the policy and any applicable exceptions individually. The statutory notice of tort options describes these coverage choices.
The assessment should also account for what recovery requires at home. Explain if you need help bathing, preparing meals, caring for children, or traveling to appointments. Specific information helps your legal team understand the effects that a stack of medical bills may not fully describe.
When to speak with a lawyer
Pennsylvania generally provides two years to file a personal injury lawsuit under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524. The precise deadline depends on the circumstances, and claims involving government entities can have earlier notice requirements. Ask an attorney to calculate the dates that apply to your case.
A filing deadline should not be your timetable for getting help. Evidence preservation, insurance communications, and questions about medical bills may need attention much sooner. You can seek legal advice while treatment continues.
If the crash took a loved one’s life, an attorney can also explain potential wrongful death and estate claims, who may bring them, and the deadlines involved. A family member can make the first call to ask what information is needed.
Talk with The Rothenberg Law Firm about your next steps
Paul Miller’s Law reinforces Pennsylvania’s restriction on handheld device use behind the wheel. If a distracted driver injured you in Philadelphia, getting care and seeking legal guidance can help you address the consequences of the crash.
The Rothenberg Law Firm brings more than 55 years of experience representing injured people. We can listen to what happened, review your circumstances, and explain your options for seeking compensation. Call 1-800-624-8888 or request a free case evaluation to discuss your next steps.