Why Crossing the Street Requires Your Full Attention

Unless you have young children, you probably aren’t too concerned about crossing the road when you are out for a jog or walk. Adults will often only spend more time on road crossings when they have little ones that they are teaching. They will tell them to stay alert and look left and right to see if there are any cars coming. But, when out and about on their own, they won’t exactly follow the same strict guidelines.

Older children and adults are notorious, in these days of modern technology, to be actively listening to music, fiddling with their phones, or both when they are jogging and walking. They even engage in these activities when they cross busy intersections dividing their attention immensely. It is very important that all your senses are engaged when you are crossing the street, and especially in large, busy intersections.

What Are The Dangers Of Crossing The Street While Distracted?

One study showed that anything which takes your full attention away from the road increases your chances of being hit when you enter the road. Whether you are listening to your favorite tunes, reading a text, taking a call, or reading an article you are risking your safety and that of others when you enter the road engaging in such behavior.

It is vitally important that you pay attention to your surroundings and environment when you are a pedestrian entering into a street. Cars weigh 3,000 to 4,000 pounds, and if you are hit, even at low speeds, your outcomes may be dire. The study showed that those who were distracted when they entered the roadway made them two times more susceptible to being hit by a car when compared to others that weren’t distracted.

Specifically, talking on the phone diverts your attention, but at least you have your eyes to scan for dangers. Texting diverts your mental attention and your visual alertness making it the very worst thing you can do when you are crossing the road. Texting puts you at the highest risk for an injury accident or worse. If you text while you are crossing the road you are over four times more likely to be hit when compared to another pedestrian who is not distracted in any way doing the same activity.

Do You Need To Locate A Wisconsin Or Illinois Personal Injury Attorney?

If you were driving and a pedestrian darts out in front of you causing you to quickly alter your path to avoid them and it results in an injury accident, you have rights. The Wisconsin and Illinois personal injury lawyers at the Alexander J. Smith Law Offices will ensure that you aren’t held accountable for damages and injuries for an accident that was not your fault.

The Janesville automobile accident attorney at the Alexander J. Smith Law Offices will look out for your best interests and fight hard to protect your legal rights as well as to obtain as much compensation as possible for your damages.

Call our Wisconsin and Illinois personal injury attorneys today to discuss your situation during a completely free consultation at (608) 237-7035 for residents of Wisconsin or (815) 243-9686 for residents of Illinois.