Too Much Tablet Use Linked to Neck Injuries

Personal injuries are not always the cause of the negligence of others. Sometimes, we contribute to our own personal injuries. However, regardless of how you’ve been injured, you may have options available to you. If you have suffered a personal injury, it’s a good idea to speak to a lawyer to learn more.

With the prevalence of technology, much has been written in recent years of the dangers of its use and misuse, especially with regards to ergonomics. For instance, it has been recently shown that too much table usage is correlated with neck pain, perhaps resulting from the bending that tablet usage requires.

The recent study conducted on university students and published in the journal Ergonomics found that “tablet use increases mechanical demand on neck muscles by three to five times more than a neutral position.” It also discovered that the, “…increased activation of neck extensor muscles [left the participants] vulnerable to fatigue and therefore pain.”

Believe it or not, people can sue if they are injured when using a technological device. In a claim for damages resulting from neck strain, opposing counsel may allege contributory negligence on the part of the user of the tablet. That said, if a manufacturer is aware of misuse or safety concerns with its product, the common law duty of care obliges the manufacturer to issue a warning about the dangers of improper use of its product. Saving such a warning, tablet makers can be subject to litigation.

If you’ve been injured as a result of tablet use, call us for a free consultation to learn more about your options.