Motorists are not the only people who can get seriously injured in a crash on Georgia roads. Pedestrians, bicyclists and others who are in the street and on sidewalks can also be involved. And because of their lack of protection, they are often the most severely injured.
In many cases, accidents between cars and people are the fault of a driver who failed to yield to or look for the people around them. In some cases, however, pedestrians are putting themselves in danger by not paying attention to their surroundings.
The topic of distracted walking has recently resurged, thanks to the overnight success of the mobile game Pokémon Go. The game requires users to watch their phones while walking around catching virtual characters. In some cases, people have evidently walked right into traffic without realizing it just to catch a Pokémon.
A recent study suggests that more than 11,000 injuries in the past 10 years have been caused by distracted walking, and some studies even go so far as to say that distracted walking causes more injuries than distracted driving. The introduction of games like Pokémon Go could be making matters even worse.
Authorities across Georgia urge people to use caution when they are walking, bicycling or otherwise sharing the roads with cars. Whether people are playing a game, texting or snapping selfies, they should be sure they are aware of their surroundings and should get to a safe place before stopping and using a phone.
However, there is only so much pedestrians can do to stay safe, and it could all be for naught if a negligent or reckless driver is on the road.
As we mentioned in this previous blog post, it is possible for accident victims to seek compensation for damages even if they were partly to blame for the accident. This means that even if you were distracted by your phone or something else while walking, you could still take legal action against a motorist who was also negligent in the event of a crash.
To understand your legal options more specifically, you can consult a personal injury attorney.
