These days, everybody seems to be wearing headphones or earbuds while working out. Although convenient, headphones isolate pedestrians from the outside world, putting them at a greater risk of getting hurt. If you are a pedestrian, you should think twice before using headphones while mobile.
Keep reading to learn about the dangers of wearing headphones and the impact that it can have on your accident settlement and how a SC pedestrian accident attorney can help you.
Dangers of Wearing Headphones as a Pedestrian
As a pedestrian, you rely on your eyes, ears, and mental faculties to keep yourself safe while crossing busy intersections and streets. A research study that evaluated 116 accidents involving pedestrians using headphones concluded that headphone use might pose a safety hazard for pedestrians, particularly in urban areas with a lot of road vehicles.
Below, we breakdown the specific dangers that pedestrians face when wearing headphones or earbuds:
Diminished Hearing
As a pedestrian, you rely on your hearing to determine how far away a vehicle is or if approaching vehicles are coming to a complete stop at a traffic signal. If you are wearing noise-canceling headphones, you will be unable to rely on these auditory cues.
Loss of Focus
Many people listen to music or podcasts while walking or running. This takes away your focus, impeding your ability to make sound decisions. You cannot rely on motor vehicle operators to watch out for you and to follow the rules of the road.
Inability to Interpret Visual Information
Pedestrian accidents are on the rise, with many pedestrians who have headphones sustaining serious injuries and death. We rely primarily on our eyes when we cross the street or when we move to the other side of the street if a sidewalk is closed.
Wearing headphones has been shown to interfere with a person’s ability to interpret visual information. Unlike motorists, pedestrians lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle, putting them at a high risk of suffering catastrophic injuries. If you are planning on going out, do yourself a favor and leave your headphones at home.
Insurance companies are always looking for a way to pay out as little as possible on a claim. Just because you were wearing headphones does not mean that you are automatically at fault if you are hit by a moving vehicle. A South Carolina personal injury attorney will examine the facts of your case to determine if, and to what extent, wearing headphones contributed to your accident.
Liability of a Pedestrian Wearing Headphones
In South Carolina, pedestrians must adhere to the following:
- Following any and all traffic control devices (such as lights and signals).
- Yielding to traffic before crossing when there is no crosswalk.
- Following the directions of any crossing signs or control devices.
- Staying on the sidewalk if one is present. Otherwise, pedestrians must walk on the outermost shoulder of the roadway.
- Pedestrians must walk against traffic when no sidewalk or shoulder is available.
- Stay off the roadway if you are dangerously intoxicated.
- Yielding to emergency vehicles.
Pedestrians have a duty to follow traffic laws and are responsible for their own safety. If you were wearing headphones and were involved in an accident, you may be found liable if you broke the law or otherwise contributed to your injuries. Each situation is different, so it is important to speak with a South Carolina personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
A South Carolina Personal Injury Attorney Fighting for You
Pedestrians often feel that it is a motorist’s duty to take the necessary precautions to avoid an accident. Pedestrian accidents have skyrocketed in recent years, resulting in countless pedestrian injuries and deaths. If you have fallen victim to a pedestrian accident, our South Carolina personal injury team wants to speak with you. To learn your legal options, contact us online or by phone.