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4 Stats and Dangers of Distracted Walking from your Denver Personal Injury Attorney

Mark A. Simon Nov. 23, 2016

Today’s sidewalks and walkways look different than they did even 10 years ago thanks to the rise in popularity of the smartphone. While the smartphone has been a great invention in many ways, it also has made many literally not watch where they are going as they walk. So how does that factory in personal injury in Denver? Below are tips and facts. Most importantly, it is best to always watch where you are going when walking down the street!

  1. Quick Stats: According to Ortho Info, typing on your smartphone, whether it is for a text or social media, is the quickest way pedestrians become distracted while walking, but talking on the phone creates issues as well. Millennials are the most likely to be distracted and suffer the most injuries. Talking on the phone made up for 69 percent of injuries between 2004 and 2010 with nine percent of those were due to texting. Those are numbers that have definitely have risen over the years. In fact, in the Pew Trusts article 'Distracted Walkers' Are Major Concern for Cities and States reported that pedestrian deaths rose 4,700 in 2012. They also reported that 53 percent of adults have run into something because of using their phone while walking. Read more stats in the Governors Highway Safety Association’s “Everyone Walks” study.

  2. Types of Injuries: While looking at your smartphone while walking may seem harmless or silly, thousands of injuries rack up each year simply due to people just not paying attention. The top types of injuries range from running into poles, walls and cars and falling down the stairs or ladders to tripping and even walking into cars. These types of injuries have exploded since the early 2000s, with premier locations being in large cities.

  3. Dude. Engage! PSA: The rise in distracted walking injuries drew the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons to create the “Dude. Engage!” public service announcement in March 2016. Soon, people will see more advertisements on TVs, radios and in print sharing the dangers of distracted walking, proper ladder use, bike riders and cars sharing the road and spine-related impairment research.

  4. New Laws: Because of the rise in walking while using a smartphone, local governments all over the country are considering making distracted walking a punishable offense similar to distracted driving. Especially because those walking around not paying attention are creating hazards to drivers and others on the road or who are also walking or working. In fact, New Jersey is one of the first states to get far in this effort and has drafted a bill that will create a $50 fine or 15-day jail sentence for those caught paying attention to a smartphone while walking.

If you are involved in a distracted walking accident, your local Denver personal injury attorney Mark A. Simon can help. With this new type of injury, if you were involved in an accident of some kind due to someone walking while on a smartphone, our office is your go-to. Mark has over 22 years of experience in the industry and can help you get the justice and quality attention you deserve. Give us a call or fill out a contact sheet for a free consultation to get started.