Alabama's distracted driving law changed how motorcycle accident cases are built. Under Ala. Code § 32-5A-350, operating a handheld device while driving is a primary offense. When phone records or vehicle data show the driver who turned left in front of a Spanish Fort rider was on their phone, that statutory violation is negligence per se — the driver broke the law designed to prevent exactly that crash. Chris Simmons subpoenas phone records and examines vehicle infotainment data in every Spanish Fort motorcycle case before the other side can minimize the distraction evidence.
At Simmons Law, Chris Simmons handles motorcycle accident cases in Spanish Fort and throughout Baldwin County. He answers his cell directly — (251) 306-8333.
Where Spanish Fort Motorcycle Crashes Happen — and Why
US-98 (Greeno Road) through Spanish Fort is the primary motorcycle crash corridor. The road carries high-speed through traffic alongside constant commercial turning movements from Spanish Fort Town Centre and the retail strip along Greeno Road. Drivers exiting these properties scan for gaps in car traffic. Motorcycles — narrower, with a different visual profile than passenger vehicles — are routinely missed in this scan. The left-turn crash that results from that missed look is the most common severe motorcycle crash type in Spanish Fort.
I-10 near Spanish Fort introduces a different hazard: crosswind exposure on the approach to the Bayway causeway and turbulence from passing commercial trucks. Riders who travel the I-10 approach toward Mobile regularly know that truck turbulence at highway speed is a stability challenge that does not affect car drivers in the same way. When a truck changes lanes without adequate clearance, the displacement of air alone can affect a motorcycle.
Battlefield Parkway and the residential streets feeding Spanish Fort's new subdivisions present a third hazard category: unfamiliar drivers. Baldwin County has added tens of thousands of residents over the past decade. Many are new to the road network, navigating with GPS rather than local knowledge, and making late or hesitant turning decisions in front of riders who have no time to react.
The Distracted Driving Statute and What It Means for Your Case
When a driver's phone records show activity at the moment of the crash — a text sent, a call placed, an app opened — that evidence, combined with Alabama's § 32-5A-350 violation, establishes negligence per se. The driver's insurance company cannot claim reasonable behavior when their insured broke a specific traffic safety law. In Spanish Fort cases where the crash happened at a US-98 commercial intersection, the combination of a left-turn failure and a phone record creates a strong liability picture.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Spanish Fort Motorcycle Cases
Alabama requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (Ala. Code § 32-7-23). In Spanish Fort motorcycle cases where the at-fault driver carried Alabama's minimum 25/50/25 limits — often inadequate for serious rider injuries — the rider's own UM/UIM policy can provide additional recovery. Alabama's made-whole doctrine protects the rider: the UM/UIM insurer cannot subrogate its lien until the rider is fully compensated. Chris Simmons evaluates all available coverage sources, including the rider's own policy, on every Spanish Fort case.
Baldwin County Circuit Court — Filing a Spanish Fort Motorcycle Case
Spanish Fort motorcycle cases are filed in Baldwin County Circuit Court, 312 Courthouse Square, Bay Minette, AL 36507. Alabama's two-year statute of limitations (§ 6-2-38) runs from the crash date. Commercial property surveillance along US-98 is overwritten within 30-72 hours. Phone records require preservation letters. Chris Simmons moves on evidence the same day he is retained. Call (251) 306-8333 — contingency fee, no cost to consult.
