How Distracted Driving Contributes to Pedestrian Accidents

Imagine waiting for the light to turn red, the pedestrian walk signal to light up, and then to be hit by a car as you take a step into the crosswalk. The reality is, victims are at a high risk of serious injury if they are struck by a driver, and many times, those drivers are distracted.

Understanding how distracted driving contributes to pedestrian accidents can help you make better decisions when you are behind the wheel. It also allows you to know what your rights are in seeking fair compensation from those at fault. Speak with a Springfield pedestrian accident attorney today.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving occurs when a person pays attention to anything but the roadway while operating a vehicle. A person who is distracted is not providing their complete awareness to the changing conditions on the roadways, and even in just a moment, this can lead to serious injury and the loss of life, especially when a car strikes a pedestrian who has no protection around them.

Consider What Distraction Does

A good way to understand the impact of distracted driving on pedestrian accidents is to consider what distraction actually means. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, if a driver takes their eyes off the roadway for just five seconds, the amount of time it takes to read a text message, they are putting the lives of others on the line. If they are traveling 55 miles per hour or more, the driver is virtually traveling the full length of a football field with their eyes closed.

What Makes Pedestrian Accidents So Dangerous

A distracted driver is unlikely to see a pedestrian fast enough to change their course and prevent striking the pedestrian. That often means the pedestrian is hit at full speed, causing serious injuries such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Crushed bones and complex fractures
• Spinal cord injuries resulting in chronic pain and paralysis
• Road rash that increases the risk of serious infection
• Internal organ damage and failure
• Disfigurement
• Amputations

In addition to these physical implications, distracted drivers cause emotional harm to victims as well. It can be traumatic to be struck by a car, especially if you are faced with significant injury and ongoing pain and suffering.

The Consequences of a Pedestrian Being Struck

For the victim, the risk of serious and life-threatening complications is very high. This can include paralysis, loss of vision, disfigurement, and chronic pain. The risk of serious impact to quality of life and even a shortening of a person’s life is very common. Many victims never fully recover.

The consequences suffered by the driver can be significant. This can include financial losses for the recovery of damages to the victim, as well as points on your license, license revocation, and, in some situations, jail time. All of this is the direct result of distracted driving – a few seconds of looking away from the road.

What Makes Distracted Driving Dangerous Is How Often It Happens

Distracted driving contributes to pedestrian accidents at an alarming rate. A person may be looking at their phone, eating, managing kids or pets, or just daydreaming. When they are not paying attention to the roadway, they are putting other people’s lives on the line, and often for a task that could have waited until you stopped.