Personal Injury Law

Text Messaging Dangerous to Teens

Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, Esquire and Catherine Bertram, Esquire

Teenagers love to send text-messages.  In fact, the average American teen sends and receives about 80 text messages per day--approximately 2,300 every month.  What worries experts is the fact that these texts takes place while kids should be paying attention to their teachers, while they cross busy intersections, and even when they are driving.   The New York Times reports that  text-messaging is distracting teen-drivers, leading to an increased risk of car accidents.  And if that's not scary enough, the report reveals that texting is believed to lead to adverse health issues concerning both physical and mental well-being.

Among other findings, researches have determined that texting causes 'anxiety, distraction in school, falling grades, repetitive stress injury and sleep deprivation', according to the Times report. From a social perspective, teens text often because they fear being 'out of the loop,' says Michael Hausauer, psychotherapist in Oakland, California.  However, the constant communication created by so much texting can make teenagers feel 'frightened and overly exposed,' comments Mr. Hausauer.  The repetitive thumb and finger movements can also cause a variety of musculoskeletal injuries, according to Peter W. Johnson, associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington.

To read the entire Times article, please click here.

We understand the usefulness of text-messaging, but we encourage our readers to impress upon teens the risks of over-texting.  The dangers can be physical and emotional.

Our firm has experience pursuing cases for adults and children that involve tragic product defects.  If you think you or your child has been injured by a defective product, we encourage you to read a portion of a book regarding products liability authored by senior partner Salvatore Zambri.

For information about your legal rights, please click here or contact us at Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.

Full post as published by DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog on June 06, 2009 (boomark / email).