Pedestrians: The New Distracted Driver

The end of summer brings increased pedestrian traffic as children, teens, and even adults are walking to their prospective schools. Walking nourishes and strengthens the mind, body and soul. Distracted walking, on the other hand, can lead to injury or even death. As we saw in countless headlines just after the release of Pokémon Go, pedestrians are increasingly more disengaged from their physical surroundings. The attorneys at Sperling Law Offices and several safety organizations are urging pedestrians – as well as drivers, riders, and bicyclists – to be aware of each other and travel safely. The consequences of pedestrian-vehicle accidents can be devastating.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “One in five traffic deaths among children ages 14 and under are pedestrian deaths.” The National Safety Council (NSC) acknowledges that “While pedestrian-vehicle injuries are the fifth leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 19, according to SafeKids.org, no age group is immune.”

The problem of distracted walking has become so noticeable that SafeKids.org highlights pedestrian safety in their efforts against severe childhood injuries, the NSC published “statistics on cell phone distracted walking” for 2015, and a reporter at the Wall Street Journal tagged along with one of many traffic guards who protect oblivious pedestrians from the moving vehicles around them.

Cell phones aren’t our only distraction. Some distractions come in the form of other social engagement or impaired judgment. Children are prone to making decisions unaware of the consequences, for instance. Adults have few excuses, however, as we can make logical decisions and understand consequences of reckless behavior.

Take care and be aware. There are many precautions to walking safely, but it all boils down to being aware of your surroundings and following traffic rules (crossing at crosswalks, etc.). If you or a loved one was injured because of an inattentive pedestrian or driver, it is best to consult with a personal injury attorney. Call 414-273-7777 for a free consultation with an attorney at Sperling Law Offices in Milwaukee. You can also visit MilwaukeeLawFirm.com for more information regarding personal injury.