Cell phone use behind the wheel of a vehicle is one of the more dangerous distracted driving behaviors. But motorists aren’t the only ones distracted when they should be paying attention to the road. A new study indicates that more and more pedestrians are ending up in the emergency room (ER) as a result of injuries caused by distracted walking.
In 2010 there were approximately 1,500 individuals who received treatment in an ER stemming from accidents involving cell phone usage. Numbers over the years have significantly jumped when it comes to the link between cell phones and pedestrian injuries.
Some of the injuries stem from walking into objects or falling. But many of them are caused by pedestrians getting struck by a car. Furthermore, it was found the age group at most risk was between the ages of 21 and 25. Next were those between 16 and 20 years old.
Preventing Injuries Stemming from Distracted Walking
Some states, including New York, have considered legislation that would ban devices such as cell phones and iPods for anyone who is crossing a street. Of course, law or no law, steps can be taken to reduce the risk of injury while walking by not texting or calling unless completely stopped.
This is especially true when walking into areas where there is traffic, such as a sidewalk that extends across a driveway or parking lot, and of course, when attempting to cross any type of road.
When it’s believed that a pedestrian’s attention was diverted by a cell phone or another device, it could make proving fault in an accident complicated. It’s important to note that just because a pedestrian is struck, it doesn’t automatically place fault with the driver. It may be that the pedestrian contributed to the accident or was the primary cause of the accident.
Contact Gacovino, Lake & Associates for help if you’ve been in a pedestrian accident.
