Mobile phones keep people constantly connected to their families, employers and friends. Many people feel dependent on their digital devices. They may compulsively check their phones when they receive alerts about incoming emails or text messages.
Unfortunately, the reliance on mobile phones that is so common in today’s culture also creates significant risk on the road. Pedestrians are at elevated risk of a crash due to their use of phones while walking and the possibility of encountering a driver looking at a mobile device instead of monitoring traffic conditions. Distraction can directly contribute to preventable pedestrian crashes.
Even brief distractions can cause a crash
Hundreds of pedestrians die in collisions every year, and many of those crashes involve distracted drivers. When a motorist looks down at their phone or becomes mentally distracted by notifications, they may fail to notice a pedestrian crossing the road or entering the street ahead of them.
Even when pedestrians cross at marked locations and follow traffic signals, distracted drivers may not notice them in time to avoid a collision. People may even have their phones in hand while pulling out of their driveways and backing out of parking spaces, making sidewalks and parking lots more dangerous than they were a few years ago.
Pedestrians hurt by distracted drivers can often file insurance claims. If they sustain significant injuries, they may also need to consider a personal injury lawsuit against a distracted driver. Reporting a crash, seeking medical care promptly and reviewing the details of a pedestrian collision with a lawyer can all help injured pedestrians hold unsafe drivers accountable.