By now, it is clear that distracted driving increases the chances of an accident occurring and has claimed thousands of lives to date. But, were you aware that distracted walking is also a contributor to fatal accidents? That’s right. Did you know that every day in the U.S, more than 40 kids are hit while walking? Of course, some of these incidents occur because of a careless or inattentive driver, but others do happen on account of a distracted walker. And according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, “teens now account for half of all pedestrian deaths among children 19 and under.”
A distracted walker could be someone who is texting on their cell phone or another who is talking with their friends while crossing the street. In fact, anyone who is not paying attention to their surroundings while out walking who neglects to exert caution could be guilty of distracted walking. The MDOT shared results from an observational study that was conducted that involved more than 34,000 middle and high school students who crossed the street in a school zone. Based on the findings, it was revealed that 39% of the students who crossed the street while distracted were typing on a cell phone, 39 % were listening to headphones, and the remaining students were either talking on the phone (20%) or using another electronic device, such as a tablet (2%).
Because one in four high school students admitted that they crossed the street while distracted and several have already lost their lives in these types of accidents, below we are sharing six mistakes your kids should avoid making when walking in the street or crossing it.
- Walking while distracted by an electronic device or while listening to headphones.
- Crossing in the middle of the block. Rather than do this, it is safer to cross at a corner or where there is a designated crosswalk.
- Walking at night in dark clothes. Your kids need to cognizant of the fact that when nighttime falls, everything is much more difficult for drivers to see. That means if they are wearing clothing that causes them to blend in, they increase the chances of having a car hit them. Aside from choosing the proper clothing, children and teens themselves need to be on high alert and paying attention to their surroundings.
- Not keeping an eye out for careless or reckless drivers. Not all drivers are cautious and not all abide by the rules of the roadway. So, as a pedestrian, it is your child’s duty to pay attention and look out for those types of drivers who simply aren’t watching out for them.
- Walking in the road. It’s dangerous enough to walk on the sidewalk as there have been cases were motorists go off the roadway, however, walking in the street only heightens the risk and increases the chances of an accident occurring.
- Walking without looking out for vehicles that are backing up.
[Source: Safe Kids Worldwide].
Not only do children and teens make these mistakes, but adults do too. Therefore, you are also encouraged to refrain from walking while distracted as you wouldn’t want to cross paths with a driver who also isn’t paying attention. Now, if you or your teen has sustained an injury in a pedestrian-related accident in Iowa City or Cedar Rapids, IA and it was caused by a distracted driver, you may have a viable personal injury case on your hands. Aside from having your insurance company compensate you for the injuries that have been sustained, you can also pursue the at-fault party if you can prove they were negligent.
The best way to do this is with the help of an Iowa City, IA personal injury lawyer. At Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C., we will help determine what your accident is worth, including the amount you have spent on medical care and even lost wages, and devise a plan on how to recover that amount.
To receive a free case evaluation, visit us at www.eellsandtronvold.com or call us at 319-393-1020.
You can also visit Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. at:
1921 51st Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-1020
Fax: (319) 393-4000