Much attention has been given to the dangers posed by distracted driving. You likely already understand that when you divert your attention to operate a mobile device while driving that you are not concentrating on the road, which could easily lead to an accident. But the fact is while distracted driving is dangerous, so too is distracted walking.

Distracted walkers pose far less danger to others than distracted drivers, but it is very easy for pedestrians who are occupied with cell phones to suffer serious injuries. In fact, the National Safety Council has started releasing statistics related to such accidents.

According to a report published by the NSC, between the years 2000 and 2011, there were over 11,000 cell phone-related distracted walking injuries. While falls accounted for most of these accidents, the numbers are indicative of just how vulnerable a person is when walking while focusing on a cellphone.

And distracted walking is especially dangerous when done in urban areas where there is a high volume of traffic. As such, the NCS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that while out walking, pedestrians should never operate cell phones or other similar mobile devices.

Putting away the cellphone is just one of the many things we can do to stay safe while walking near traffic or crossing the street. But motorists have a duty of care to watch out for pedestrians in crosswalks or near streets.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto-pedestrian accident, it's important that you receive a level of compensation that will cover your medical and other associated expenses. A personal injury attorney could help you pursue appropriate compensation by investigating the accident and assessing the damages. The attorney could represent your interests with insurance companies or act as your counsel should you choose to file a civil lawsuit against the responsible party.