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Over the past two decades, emergency room visits due to smartphone-related injuries have risen dramatically, according to a study cited by CNN. The vast majority of victims were individuals in their teens and 20s. Distracted driving, walking, and texting accidents were the primary causes of these injury accidents.
The Dallas injury lawyers of Tate Law Offices, P.C., want everyone to be safe while walking and driving, so we’ve put together the following information to help you understand the trends in Texas and across the nation to better protect yourself and your loved ones from injury.
Distracted Smartphone Injury Statistics
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 2,841 people were killed in distraction-related accidents in a single recent year. The Governors Highway Safety Association also reported more than 6,000 pedestrian deaths that year, the highest in more than two decades.
Common Situations Where Smartphone Injuries Occur
It’s no secret that Americans are highly dependent on their phones, with 96% of the population owning a cell phone. Because people are using their phones everywhere, an injury accident could happen anywhere if the user is not paying attention to what they are doing.
Some common situations include:
- Distracted driving – A driver who is talking, texting, browsing social media, or using other smartphone applications could easily cause a serious injury crash. A distracted driver could hit another vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian, and the resulting injuries could be devastating and potentially fatal.
- Distracted walking – Pedestrians who are paying attention to their phones are not focusing on the path ahead and their surroundings. Distracted pedestrians might fail to observe signals at intersections, or might fail to see oncoming vehicles at unprotected crosswalks. They could also trip and fall while walking, leading to severe injuries to the head and face, hands and wrists, knees and hips, and other parts of the body.
Types of Injuries That Result From Distracted Smartphone Use
Between 1998 and 2017, 76,043 patients suffered injuries to the head and neck due to cell phone use in the United States. The most common injuries included:
- Lacerations – 26.3% of the estimated total
- Contusions – 24.5% of the estimated total
- Internal injury – 18.4% of the estimated total
Laws Regarding Smartphone Use in Texas
Texas has banned the use of a wireless communication device for texting or electronic messaging while driving. This means:
- Drivers cannot send or receive electronic messages while operating a motor vehicle.
- Those who have a learner’s permit cannot use handheld cellphones in their first six months of driving.
- Drivers younger than 18 cannot use wireless communications devices while operating a motor vehicle.
- It is illegal for any driver to text or use a handheld device in a school zone.
At least 45 cities, including Austin, San Antonio, Denton, and others have even stricter hands-free laws on the books.
Were You Hurt? We Can Help
Were you hurt in an accident? Was the other person distracted by a cellphone? If so, the Dallas car accident lawyers of Tate Law Offices, P.C., want to hear from you right away.
Our team has a 99% success rate and over 3,000 cases won. We will be ready to help you seek the answers, compensation, and justice you deserve if you were hurt due to someone else’s negligence.
Call our offices today or reach out online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your rights and legal options.
Tim received a business degree in finance from Southern Methodist University and a Juris Doctor (law degree) from South Texas College of Law. Over the last two decades Tim has represented victims of injuries day-in and day-out throughout the state of Texas as well as in numerous other states throughout America. Tim’s mission on every case is always to get the insurance company of the defendant to pay top dollar for his client’s case, which allows his clients to put the maximum amount of money into their pocket.
