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Slips, Trips & Falls

2/7/2010
Richard N. Shapiro
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Texting and Walking Could Lead to Injury from a Slip, Trip, or Fall

There's been a lot of media coverage on the dangers associated with texting and driving . Studies have shown texting behind the wheel is 23 times more dangerous than driving without the distraction . However, you don't need a car to suffer a serious injury from texting. In fact, people who text while walking are at risk from getting hurt from a slip, trip, or fall.

text, texting, distracted, driving, injury, accident, traumatic brain injury, concussion, ACL

Take a stroll around a college campus, or any shopping center, and you're likely to see someone walking around staring directly down at their cell phone typing a text message. What these texters fail to fully realize is that they could be walking straight towards an ice patch (especially after the massive snow storms we've been enduring in Virginia, DC, Maryland, etc.), a pole, a small hole, or some other object.

A serious slip or trip can lead to a serious fall which can lead to a broken leg, fractured wrist, torn ACL, or a traumatic head injury.

Am I saying you should stop texting all together? Of course not; but you need to be cognizant of your surroundings, even as you text. Take a moment to look up and make sure there's no caution sign indicating a slippery surface ahead. If you slip or fall on a wet surface, like a cleaning fluid or debris in a grocery store or shopping mall, or due to a hole or other unusual articifically created condition, you may have grounds for a slip, trip or fall injury claim. Most businesses are required to alert their customers if there's a known slippery artificial surface or condition on their property-and to correct it and warn of it

Also be aware if there's another texter approaching you. The risk of colliding with an individual can also produce a serious injury similar to slipping or tripping like a concussion or lower back injury.

Another recommendation would be to avoid texting while walking up or down a flight of stairs. Again, since your attention is focused on typing the text, you may unintentionally slip and fall on one of the steps.

Again, I'm not saying never text, but be aware of your surroundings. The thing that is important to remember about trip, slip and any fall type injury is no one intends to have it happen-the mechanism of how we slip or trip is that in a split second its over-you are down and sometimes seriously injured.

Labels: ACL Attorney concussion driving fall injury message Shapiro slip text texting traumatic head injury trip

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses exclusively on injury and accident law. We have a proven track record in the court room, and you can review our case results to see for yourself. Our attorneys have deep roots in Virginia and handle cases throughout the commonwealth. Our office is based in Virginia Beach, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness. While not every injury case meets our criteria, we off a free, initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail and we will return your call promptly.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included among the "Best Lawyers in America" 2010 Edition. Rick and James, along with fellow attorney John Cooper were named Virginia "Super Lawyers" For Personal Injury Law (2010 Ed., less than 5% of lawyers are chosen), and selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum (2009). In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical, respected law firms. Our firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We also offer free special reports along with editing the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a public information service. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube, a Railroad Accident/FELA Lawyers blog, a Medical Malpractice and Surgical Errors blog, and a blog dedicated to accident and safety issues on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

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