Seattle is a bustling city, and like most metropolitan areas a lot of people like to walk to work or take strolls on their lunch break. This, combined with the amount of tourists in the area, makes for a lot of pedestrians. While pedestrians can walk safely, more and more are not looking where they are going. In fact, a recent study shows that about 1,500 pedestrians are treated in emergency rooms every year because they are looking at their cell phones while they are walking and are distracted from what is ahead.
While it is impossible to know for sure how many injuries could be avoided if pedestrians didn't use their cell phones, the fact is that many injuries would probably not take place. At Ohio State University, a study shows that in the world of smart phones, more and more people are trying to multitask as they walk. Instead of looking around to see if any cars are approaching, pedestrians walk with their heads down as they scroll through an Instagram or Facebook feed, read and replay to e-mails, text, and listen to music. On cell phones there are a countless number of things that pedestrians can do on their morning walk to work, but looking down for this long can bring on an injury or a fatality.
Investigators have learned that the number of distracted walking accidents has skyrocketed in recent years. Between 2004 and 2007, the amount of distracted walking accidents ranged from 256 to 597. In2010, there were 1,506 injuries of this nature. There were also a countless number of injuries from distracted walking accidents such as broken bones, bruises, spinal cord injuries and more. If you were the victim of one of these accidents, you can contact a lawyer at Law Offices of J.D. Smith, PLLC to see if you have a case. Consult with a Seattle personal injury attorney and see if you have the right to seek compensation!