Distracted Walking is Becoming a Major Safety Concern
In a study published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,000 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 76,000 were injured in traffic collisions in 2012. While many people are familiar with distracted driving laws, some cities like Fort Lee, New Jersey have banned cell phone use while using a crosswalk due to the amount of accidents distracted walking has caused. Other cities, like New York City, have decreased the speed limit in major urban and pedestrian areas to 30 miles per hour in an effort to lower the number of pedestrian injuries.
The study finds that distracted walkers are more likely to ignore traffic signals, take longer to walk across the street and are most likely to fail to look both ways before crossing. The most common group of people affected by distracted walking is teens. Nearly 40 percent of teens have been hit or nearly hit by a passing car, motorcyclist or bike due to distracted walking.
Common injuries associated with distracted walking include:
- Cuts
- Bruises
- Fractures
- Brian Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Concussions
- Death
If you were involved in an accident due to a distracted walker, you should contact a personal injury attorney well-versed in handling situations like yours. At the Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli, we are deeply invested in providing all our clients with excellent services. Contact our office today or call to set up your free consultation. We can go over any questions you may have about your case during that time.