With the first day of beginning of spring coming this week, it is only a matter of time till warmer weather will embrace our region. You can expect more people to be walking outside, running and even riding bicycles.
Yes, warm weather naturally brings out pedestrians. Because of this, so many drivers must be re-educated to ensure that they know to watch out for pedestrians. At the same time, some pedestrians may put themselves at greater risk if they are not paying attention to the world around them because they are so focused on their cell phones.
According to a study published in The Atlantic, more pedestrians are becoming so consumed with their phones that they may not notice hazards. This phenomenon is referred to as “inattention blindness” and it is similar to what drivers experience when they are talking on their cell phones while driving.
Ohio State University researchers found that the number car-pedestrian accidents increased dramatically between 2004 and 2010. It is not a coincidence that the number of smartphones increased by the same pace during that time. Basically, the number of accidents where pedestrians were checking Facebook posts, texting or having phone conversations correlated to the increasing number of pedestrian accidents.
If you are a pedestrian who has been hurt in an accident, don’t simply believe that you can’t recover any money damages just because you may have been on your phone before you were hit. An experienced personal injury attorney can review your case and help you understand how the law may work in your favor.
The preceding is not legal advice.
