As you’re navigating the hectic traffic on the Las Vegas Strip or Henderson Water Street District, you might think about popping on your headphones to take a call or listen to an audiobook. But have you ever stopped to consider the legality and safety of wearing headphones while driving in Las Vegas? This is a frequent question the Las Vegas car accident lawyers at ER Injury Attorneys hear, and the answer is crucial for every Clark County driver. Our team explains the various legal, liability, and safety issues of headphone use while driving.
Nevada Law on Headphones While Driving in Las Vegas
Nevada Revised Statute 484B.165 prohibits the use of “handheld wireless communications devices” while driving. However, this does not specifically cover earbuds and headphones. While the act of wearing headphones while driving in Las Vegas is legal on its own, doing so can have serious consequences.
For example, if headphone use was a contributing factor in an automobile wreck, it could be considered negligence or recklessness. If you’ve been injured by a driver wearing headphones, their decision to do so would benefit your personal injury claim—even if you were partially at fault for the accident.
Conversely, this can be used against you if you were wearing headphones while driving in Las Vegas. Insurance adjusters will see it as a clear example of cognitive distraction. This can severely limit your ability to recover compensation. Being guilty of distracted driving can greatly increase your percentage of blame if multiple parties were responsible for the crash.
Headphones Increase Your Chances of a Car Accident
Even though wearing headphones while driving in Las Vegas is legal, it is frowned upon. More importantly, it creates a preventable danger by taking away one of your senses. Consider these common scenarios on Clark County roads:
- You’re trying to change lanes on the busy US-95 and don’t hear the urgent honk of a driver in your blind spot.
- A fire truck approaches with its siren on as you drive through Downtown Summerlin, but your music or podcast drowns it out, causing you to fail to yield the right-of-way.
- You miss the sound of screeching tires from a car losing control ahead of you on the Las Vegas Strip, giving you precious little time to react and avoid a crash.
Driving requires your full attention, and eliminating one of your key senses creates an unnecessary hazard. The Las Vegas car accident lawyers at ER Injury Attorneys strongly recommend keeping your full attention on the road and both hands on the steering wheel at all times, which also means not using headphones while driving.
Contact a Trusted Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer
The safest practice for any driver is to avoid headphones entirely while behind the wheel. For phone calls, use your vehicle’s infotainment system or your phone’s speaker. If you need turn-by-turn directions, set your GPS destination before you drive or ask for directions using voice commands. These simple steps help ensure you can hear emergency vehicles, car horns, and other crucial traffic sounds, making the roads safer for everyone in Las Vegas, Henderson, and Summerlin.
Unfortunately, some collisions and crashes will happen no matter how safe you’re driving. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by another party, then contact the Las Vegas injury lawyers at ER Injury Attorneys immediately.
You can reach ER Injury Attorneys 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us at 702-878-7878, communicate with our online LiveChat agents, or submit your case information through our secure contact form. Our experienced Southern Nevada injury lawyers have secured top settlements for injury victims in Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Pahrump, Boulder City, Laughlin, and beyond. Reach out to us today to get the service and settlement you deserve.