Every year, Texans land in the emergency room because their attention was on a screen instead of the sidewalk, the stairs, or the road ahead. Our September 2026 report on preventable injuries looked at Texas hospital records to find out which everyday activities become dangerous once a phone is in hand. What we found surprised even us, and it goes well beyond texting behind the wheel.
As a Houston personal injury attorney team, we see the aftermath of these moments every week. We wanted to put real numbers on a problem most people shrug off.
Key Findings
- Walking while using a phone is the single riskiest activity we measured. It sent over 700 Texans to the hospital in five years, and seniors (65+) were hurt most often.
- Adults between 25 and 44 are the primary age group at risk overall. That runs against the common belief that only seniors are seriously harmed by phone-related accidents.
- The car is the most dangerous place for digital distraction. Phone use while driving put 850 Texans in the hospital, making it the leading setting for phone-related injuries in our data.
- Head injuries dominate. In four of the five top-ranked activities, the head was the most-injured body part.
How We Conducted the Study
We examined around 1.8 million federal hospital records to find which everyday activities cause the most phone-related injuries. Federal emergency department injury data of this kind is collected through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS).
We identified cases where someone was actively using a phone at the moment of injury, then sorted those cases into 18 specific activities. For each activity, we also looked at how serious the injury was, which body parts were hurt most, and which age groups showed up most often in the records. We combined these figures into statewide estimates for Texas covering 2021 through 2025.
The 5 Most Dangerous Activities to Do While on Your Phone
| Activity | Setting | Estimated ER visits (Texas, 2021–2025) | Share of Texas phone-use injuries (2021–2025) | Most-injured body part | Most common injury | Who gets hurt most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Losing your balance while walking | On foot | 707 | 18% | Head | Fracture | Seniors (65+) |
| Answering or picking up the phone while driving | Behind the wheel | 442 | 11% | Head | Bruise or scrape | Adults (25-44) |
| Looking at the phone while driving | Behind the wheel | 423 | 11% | Head | Bruise or scrape | Adults (25-44) |
| Falling down the stairs | On the stairs | 365 | 9% | Ankle | Fracture | Middle-aged (45-64) |
| Walking into poles, walls & doors | On foot | 286 | 7% | Head | Head injury (incl. concussion) | Adults (25-44) |
You can access the complete research findings here.
Breaking Down Each Activity
1. Losing Your Balance While Walking
- Setting: On foot
- Estimated ER visits (2021-2025): 707
- Share of all phone-use injuries: 18%
- Most-injured body part: Head
- Most common injury: Fracture
- Who gets hurt most: Seniors (65+)
Walking while on a phone is the most dangerous habit we measured. Over 700 Texans ended up in the ER because of it in the last five years, accounting for 18% of all phone-use injuries in our data. Seniors (aged 65+) carry the heaviest burden. They are the most likely to walk away with a fracture and face weeks of recovery.
This lines up with national research. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that injuries to pedestrians using their phones have more than doubled since 2004, and that women 55 and older tend to suffer the most severe distracted walking injuries.
2. Answering or Picking Up the Phone While Driving
- Setting: Behind the wheel
- Estimated ER visits (2021-2025): 442
- Share of all phone-use injuries: 11%
- Most-injured body part: Head
- Most common injury: Bruise or scrape
- Who gets hurt most: Adults (25-44)
Reaching for a ringing phone is the second-riskiest activity on our list. It accounts for more than 1 in 10 of the phone-use injuries we found, and 442 Texans went to the hospital in five years because of an untimely call. Adults between 25 and 44 appear most often in the records. That is also the age group most likely to have young children riding in the back seat.
Texas law already addresses part of this. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 545.4251, it is an offense to read, write, or send an electronic message on a handheld device while driving. If a distracted driver injured you or your family, a car accident lawyer can help you determine whether that driver's phone use played a role in the crash.
3. Looking at the Phone While Driving
- Setting: Behind the wheel
- Estimated ER visits (2021-2025): 423
- Share of all phone-use injuries: 11%
- Most-injured body part: Head
- Most common injury: Bruise or scrape
- Who gets hurt most: Adults (25-44)
Scrolling a feed or checking a map while driving put over 420 Texans in the hospital over five years. Bruises and scrapes are the most common injuries, but the head is the body part most likely to be hurt, often from striking an airbag after rear-ending another vehicle or hitting a pole.
Combined, the two driving activities on our list make the car the single most dangerous setting for phone distraction. TxDOT's own figures show the size of the problem statewide. In 2025, distracted driving was responsible for 86,384 crashes on Texas roads, resulting in 299 deaths and 2,437 serious injuries. When a crash causes lasting harm, our catastrophic injury attorneys work to hold the responsible driver accountable.
4. Falling Down the Stairs
- Setting: On the stairs
- Estimated ER visits (2021-2025): 365
- Share of all phone-use injuries: 9%
- Most-injured body part: Ankle
- Most common injury: Fracture
- Who gets hurt most: Middle-aged (45-64)
Over the past five years, 365 Texans ended up in the ER after falling on the stairs while using their phone. That is almost 1 in 10 of the phone-use injuries in our data. Seniors are the most likely to be seriously hurt in these falls, but middle-aged Texans (45 to 64) are the group that shows up most often. Broken ankles are what ER doctors see most, and the records include many serious fracture cases.
5. Walking Into Poles, Walls, and Doors
- Setting: On foot
- Estimated ER visits (2021-2025): 286
- Share of all phone-use injuries: 7%
- Most-injured body part: Head
- Most common injury: Head injury (incl. concussion)
- Who gets hurt most: Adults (25-44)
More than 285 ER visits in Texas over the past five years trace back to people walking straight into something solid while looking at a phone. These accidents skew younger, with adults between 25 and 44 making up the largest share of cases. They often end in head injuries, including concussions.
It happens more than people admit. A Pew Research Center survey found that 51% of adults ages 18 to 24 had bumped into someone or something because they were distracted by their phone.
What Our Founder Says About the Findings
José Calderón, Founder and Trial Attorney at Calderon Law Firm, commented on the study.
"Studies show that 43% of us have walked into something or someone while on the phone, so this kind of accident is far more common than people admit. Our phones are where our lives happen now, and that is not going to change. But many states, especially Texas, have a huge problem with distracted driving, and over 94K road accidents are tied to Texans in the driver's seat checking a phone, answering a call, or trying to get a bite. Not using a phone behind the wheel is not only about personal safety, but it's also about personal responsibility if the crash does happen."
- José Calderón, Founder and Trial Attorney, Calderon Law Firm
Simple Habits That Lower Your Risk
- Stop walking before you read or reply to a message.
- Keep one hand on the railing and your eyes on the steps when using stairs.
- Put your phone on Do Not Disturb or in a mount before you start the car.
- Let calls go to voicemail while driving and return them once you are parked.
- Help older family members set up voice commands so they can keep their eyes forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most dangerous thing to do while using a phone in Texas?
According to our study of Texas hospital records from 2021 to 2025, losing your balance while walking and using a phone is the most dangerous activity. It led to an estimated 707 ER visits, or 18% of all phone-use injuries we identified.
How many Texans were hospitalized from using a phone while driving?
Our research found that phone use while driving put 850 Texans in the hospital between 2021 and 2025. Answering or picking up a phone accounted for 442 ER visits, and looking at a phone accounted for 423.
Which age group is most at risk of phone-related injuries?
Adults between 25 and 44 are the primary age group at risk. They were the group hurt most often in three of the five most dangerous activities, including both driving categories. Seniors (65+) were hurt most often in walking falls, and middle-aged adults (45 to 64) in stair falls.
What injuries are most common in phone-related accidents?
The head was the most-injured body part in four of the five top activities. Fractures were the most common injury in walking falls and stair falls, while bruises and scrapes were most common in driving-related cases. Walking into poles, walls, and doors most often caused head injuries, including concussions.
Is texting while driving illegal in Texas?
Yes. Texas Transportation Code Section 545.4251 makes it an offense to use a handheld wireless device to read, write, or send an electronic message while operating a vehicle.
Should I talk to a car accident lawyer if a distracted driver hit me?
Yes. A driver who was on their phone at the time of a crash may be legally responsible for your injuries. A car accident lawyer can gather phone records, witness statements, and crash reports to show how the distraction caused the collision.
Eyes Up, Texas. Here Is How We Can Help
Our data shows that a few seconds of looking down can lead to a fracture, a concussion, or a crash that changes a family's life. Most of these injuries are preventable, and the simplest fix is to put the phone away while you are moving.
When someone else's distraction causes harm, the law gives you options. Our team represents injured Texans and families who lost loved ones, including in wrongful death cases caused by careless drivers. You can review some of our case results or learn more about our firm.
If you or someone you love was hurt by a distracted driver in Houston or anywhere in Texas, talk to a car accident lawyer who knows these cases. Contact Calderon Law Firm today for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win.