Georgia Injury Law Blog
As we head towards the end of summer, pedestrians walking along Atlanta roads must remember to focus on the task of walking and avoid distractions from their cell phones and other devices to avoid car accidents. Unfortunately, too often pedestrians are seen walking across a street while looking at their cell phones or texting. This type of conduct prevents them from being alert to cars entering their paths, even when the pedestrian has the right of way.
A new study in Australia finds that texting on a cell phone while walking significantly increases a person’s risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident. The researchers divided college students into 3 groups. The first group was asked to text while sitting, while the other group was asked to walk without texting. The third group was made to text while walking on a pathway that was specifically designed for the experiment with tiles that were out of place. Not surprisingly, the researchers found that the group of persons who were texting while walking had their focus impacted by their distraction.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that close to 10% of auto accidents in the United States every year are directly linked to motorists using cell phones while driving. Other studies have found plenty of evidence that distractions also seem to place pedestrians at risk of pedestrian accidents. If you are walking while talking on your cell phone, or listening to music on your headphones, you are less likely to identify an approaching car or spot any other kind of safety cues.
Experts have identified these risks for pedestrians and have also devised solutions for these. For instance, apps that can detect when a person is in motion and shut down cell phones or headphones making these difficult to use when the person is walking, could be a possible solution for these challenges. Unfortunately, the potential benefits of such devices and apps have not really caught on, with the result that distraction continues to remain a risk factor for pedestrians.
The number of pedestrians killed in auto accidents has skyrocketed across the country, while the role of distractions in causing car accidents continues to be prominent. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 7,388 people were killed in distracted driving auto accidents in 2021. That was a significant 13% increase from the previous year. Always focus on your surroundings while walking. Avoid using cell phones or listening to music while walking. In any car accident involving a pedestrian, it is the person walking who is most at risk of suffering personal injuries. If you are a motorist, always look out for pedestrians, especially at marked and designated crosswalks, and yield to pedestrians when you see them trying to cross.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for a claim that allows you to recover compensation for your medical costs, lost income and other types of damages. Talk to a lawyer at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.