Community Initiative
End Distracted Driving
Patterson Law Group is committed to making Texas roads safer. Distracted driving kills thousands of Americans every year — and every one of those deaths is preventable.
Did You Know? — Texas distracted-driving facts
Our Partnership with End Distracted Driving
As part of the commitment to promoting safe driving practices and reducing the number of accidents caused by distracted driving, Patterson Law Group has partnered with End Distracted Driving. This national organization is focused on reaching high school students through interactive assemblies with resources to help students understand the impact of distracted driving and practical approaches to avoid it.
Our Commitment to Safer Texas Roads
At Patterson Law Group, we see the consequences of distracted driving every single day. The victims who come to us — families who lost loved ones, people who will spend months or years recovering from serious injuries — all have one thing in common: their lives were changed forever by a driver who looked away from the road for just a moment.
That's why we go beyond the courtroom. We are dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving in Fort Worth, Arlington, San Antonio, and across Texas. Preventing crashes before they happen is just as important as fighting for justice after they do.
We support education initiatives, community outreach, and legislative efforts to hold distracted drivers accountable. Because every crash prevented is a family spared.
In-Person Presentation
Travis Patterson Speaks in Schools
Travis Patterson, the managing partner of Patterson Law Group, is speaking to local high school students as part of the program. As a personal injury attorney, Patterson sees the catastrophic impact of unsafe driving and is passionate about educating drivers about car safety and the preventable dangers of distracted driving.
"Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents on Texas roads, and it's a problem that affects everyone. We hope that our efforts to educate young drivers about the dangers of distracted driving will help to reduce the number of accidents caused by this behavior and make our roads safer for everyone."
Request a Live Presentation
If you are involved with a high school in North Texas, we'd love to talk with you about coming in and speaking to your students about distracted driving.
Book a Presentation →What Is Distracted Driving?
The NHTSA defines distracted driving as any activity that diverts a driver's attention away from the primary task of driving. There are three main types:
Visual
Taking your eyes off the road — reading a text, checking a GPS, looking at a billboard.
Manual
Taking your hands off the wheel — eating, adjusting the radio, reaching for something in the back seat.
Cognitive
Taking your mind off driving — daydreaming, talking on the phone, emotional conversations.
Texting while driving is the most dangerous form because it combines all three types simultaneously. A driver reading or sending a text message is essentially driving blind for 5 seconds at a time.
Texas Distracted Driving Laws
Texas law prohibits reading, writing, or sending electronic messages while driving. Violations carry fines up to $200. In school zones, handheld device use is strictly prohibited.
But here's the truth: these fines are not enough of a deterrent. At Patterson Law Group, we pursue civil claims against distracted drivers — seeking full compensation for every penny of harm they caused, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
If a distracted driver injured you or killed your loved one, Texas law gives you the right to hold them financially accountable.
Why this matters to us
The Tita Shaffer Story
On April 9, 2016, Texas lost a very young and special soul to distracted driving. Patterson Law Group, in partnership with Heather and Janae Cook, founded a bi-annual scholarship in her honor.
About Emma "Tita" Lourdes Shaffer
If you asked James Shaffer about his daughter Tita, he would lovingly refer to her as one of God's most precious gifts. In 2016, Tita was a 6th grader at Liberty Christian with a bright future ahead of her. Tita was always willing to be an honest friend to complete strangers and would actively stand up for anyone in her life. In her free time, she volunteered with the "Someone Please Help Me" program and engaged in competitive cheer at Champion Cheer in Southlake, Texas. She loved both cheer and her team and had been involved in the sport since 2009. Champion Cheer was like a second home for Tita who considered her team to be family. There wasn't a single person who knew Tita that didn't have something wonderful to say about her.
Many would argue that Tita followed in her mother's footsteps. Emma Lourdes Shaffer was a dedicated mom and adored wife. She always went above and beyond for Tita. She would consistently volunteer at Liberty Christian and was a proud cheer mom who was very involved at Champion Cheer. Like Tita, Emma is remembered for always being willing to go out of her way to help anyone that needed help.
The Crash
On April 9, 2016, Emma and Tita were driving home from dinner when their car was struck head on in a collision. The other driver was also a mother with her daughter in the car who was texting a friend while driving southbound on Highway 377. The car veered off into the northbound lane where both mothers and daughters were killed on impact. Tita was only 12 at the time of her death.
The text sent that cost four lives that day was, "I'll see you at the skate park."
Janae's Text Free For Tita Campaign
One of Tita's best friends, Janae Cook, was devastated by the news of Tita's passing. Tita and Janae cheered on the same team and spent countless hours together. Janae has worked with her mother, Heather, to channel her emotions of sadness and frustration into positive change. Janae founded a campaign, "Text Free For Tita," to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. Janae's message has spread farther than she could have ever imagined, even touching people across the globe. She lives by the slogan, "No text is worth a life. It can wait," and urges others to do the same.
Please Note: The Patterson Law Group Scholarship is no longer accepting applications. The details below are provided for past applicants and informational purposes.
Text Free For Tita Bi-Annual Scholarship
The silver lining to this horrible trend of accident fatalities is that distracted driving accidents are completely preventable. With increased education, awareness, and enforcement, we can reduce distracted driving accidents together. The Text Free For Tita Scholarship was founded not only to honor Tita, but to help ensure accidents like Tita's no longer continue to occur.
The bi-annual scholarship awarded $1,000 for the recipient's contribution to the campaign, paid directly to the recipient's school for university or law school tuition and related educational expenses. Applicants submitted a creative entry — video, written piece, photo, or graphic — posted publicly with #TextFreeForTita #scholarship and tagging @pattersonlawgroup.
The Most Common Driving Distractions
Hit by a Distracted Driver? Do This.
- 1
Call 911
Get police and emergency services on the scene immediately. A police report documenting the crash is critical to your case.
- 2
Document Everything
Take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, injuries, and any visible signs the driver was on a phone. Note the time — phone records can later confirm distraction.
- 3
Get Witness Information
Bystanders who saw the driver looking at a phone or otherwise distracted are powerful witnesses. Get their names and contact info before they leave.
- 4
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you feel fine, get evaluated by a doctor immediately. Many serious injuries — including traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding — are not immediately apparent.
- 5
Call Patterson Law Group
Before speaking to any insurance company, call us. We investigate distracted driving crashes, preserve critical phone records through legal subpoenas, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Take the Pledge
Patterson Law Group asks everyone in our community to commit to distraction-free driving. The slogan that drives this movement comes from Janae Cook, Tita Shaffer's best friend, who turned her grief into change:
"No text is worth a life. It can wait."
— Janae Cook, founder of the Text Free For Tita campaign
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get phone records to prove the driver was texting? +
What compensation can I recover from a distracted driver? +
What if the driver denies they were distracted? +
How long do I have to file a claim in Texas? +
Injured by a Distracted Driver?
We investigate, we fight, and we win. Free consultation — no fees unless we win. Available 24/7.