Walking and Texting – Don’t Underestimate The Dangers

By Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie on November 15, 2016

In the mobile world we live in today, it’s impossible not to hear about the dangers of using a cell phone or texting while driving.  What you might not know is the level of danger involved when walking and texting and the staggering increase of related personal injury accidents.

Pedestrian accidents are often caused due to a decreased level of attentiveness happening while walking and using cell phones. Pedestrians actually do not always have the right-of-way and they have a duty and obligation to pay attention and watch where they are walking.

Considering pedestrians who are texting or making phone calls are often looking down at their mobile devices, they are more often stepping into cross walks and busy streets and right in front of moving vehicles. Many times these accidents occur in parking lots when pedestrians are talking on their phones, while walking to or from their cars – and at the same time drivers are looking away from the front of their vehicles, with their heads turned trying to locate a parking space.

Federal traffic safety experts are classifying the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle as the “new drunk driving” and there is no reason to believe this same classification doesn’t apply to a pedestrian’s use of cell phones. The decision to use a cell phone while driving or walking is extremely dangerous, regardless of the activity and whether or not a hands-free devise is being used. Although text messaging behind the wheel receives the majority of attention, drivers or pedestrians talking on the phone, surfing the Internet, engaging in social media activity, reading the news or engaging in other tasks pose significant safety threats to one's self and others.

Have you considered buying a new car lately? Many new vehicles are equipped with Wi-Fi and have screens on the dash board allowing you to connect your mobile devise to the screen.  All popular applications that you find on your cell phone — Facebook, Instagram, You tube, etc. –can be viewed while driving the car.  This is another example of increased distractions for drivers that reduce attentiveness and create a failure to see pedestrians.  If pedestrians are looking down at mobile devices and drivers are also focusing on their dashboard screens, it’s no surprise we should anticipate an increase in fatal accidents.

Why take the chance of a creating a life-altering personal injury for you or others that could be easily avoided?  Whatever it is that seems so important, we suggest it can wait.

If you or a loved one suffers a significant personal injury anywhere in Orange County or Southern California, our experienced team of lawyers are here for you.  Our lawyers at Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie offer a free consultation so call us at 949-752-7474 to schedule your free consultation today.