We all know of the hazards associated with texting while driving in California, but is texting while walking just as dangerous? are The answer, derived from a recent study, may surprise: The risk of injury when you are texting while walking is actually higher than the risk when you are texting and driving. Although injuries from texting and driving are usually more serious, injuries from texting and walking occur more often. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident because the other driver was texting, contact an experienced auto accident attorney in Los Angeles.
The injuries associated with texting while walking involve not just those caused by pedestrian accidents, but also slip and falls, injuries from walking into street poles, walls and other objects, walking into the road and into cars, and related accidents. You’ve probably accidentally bumped into someone who was looking down at their phone and texting while walking down the sidewalk. This study focused on the three types of distractions that occur when a person is texting while walking: manual distractions, visual distractions, and cognitive distractions. Pedestrians in a city like Los Angeles need to be especially mindful given the number of cars on the road and the number of serious auto accidents that occur each day.
We see many people walking on the sidewalk and checking their social media accounts, texting, talking on the phone, etc… However, just because it is commonplace does not make it safe. According to one doctor, “When texting, you’re not as in control with the complex actions of walking. While talking on the phone is a distraction, texting is much more dangerous because you can’t see the path in front of you.”
Texting, and to a lesser extent reading, on your mobile phone affects one’s ability to walk and balance, potentially impacting the safety of people who text and walk at the same time. This has led to the number of pedestrians treated in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries related to phone use while walking more than doubling since 2005.
For more information on the injuries associated with texting and driving, or texting and walking, or if you were injured by a person who was texting, contact the skilled personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles at BIKLAW today.