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It's a bugbear for many: seeing a person so glued to their phone they are oblivious to the world around them.

Now, research has shown these people may be putting themselves at risk of injury.

And this number rose to 84 per cent among 16 to 24-year-olds. Around 41 per cent of people say they have had a technology-related mishap, according to new figures collated for Accident Awareness Week.

The figures reveal 13 per cent of people have walked into someone or something while checking their mobile phone, with the figure rising to 43 per cent for younger generations.

And the problems don't only occur only when people are walking around.

Some 60 per cent of young people have managed to drop their phone on their face while reading lying down.

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Every year, four million people in the UK end up in A&E as the result of an accident, the National Accident Helpline - which commissioned the research - warns.

It's research revealed a range of bizarre accidents that illuminate the dangers of modern life.

Some people reported becoming injured by a selfie stick, falling off a hover board or after getting hit by a popping Prosecco cork.

Other accidents included being injured by a vegetable spiralizer, suffering a chili burn to the eye and getting stuck in a yoga position.

And while one of the benefits of exercise is to ward off injury, many people reported they had hurt themselves while working out.

Around 16 per cent of people said they had fallen off gym equipment like treadmills or balance balls, while 8 per cent had dropped gym weights on themselves.

However most people reported hurting themselves in the home.

Some 44 per cent of people have burned themselves while ironing and 35 per cent have tripped over their pet.

Around 30 per cent have stepped on an upturned plug while 28 per cent have hammered their fingers while doing DIY.

Meanwhile, 27 per cent have fallen off a kerb whilst talking to a friend and the same percentage have walked into a glass door.

Some 18 per cent have got their heel stuck in a grate or a gap in the pavement and 15 per cent have tripped up on an escalator

And the excitement of being in the sunshine - possibly combined with cheap alcohol - can also make people careless abroad.

On holiday, 25 per cent of people have slipped on wet tiles by the pool and 12 per cent admitted to tripping on their flip-flops.

Russell Atkinson, CEO of National Accident Helpline, said: 'We all have a tale to tell of the accidents that happen as we go about our daily lives, whether it's stepping on an upturned plug, or cutting ourselves while preparing food a little too enthusiastically with the latest kitchen gadget.

'But while minor accidents can be the cause of amusement for our friends and family, many people experience far more serious accidents that have a devastating effect on their lives.

'We have launched Accident Awareness Week to help prevent the many avoidable accidents that happen every year in the UK.

'In our fast-moving world of smartphones and other gadgets and gizmos, we're encouraging people to pay a little more attention to the potential risks around them, so we can reduce avoidable accidents and get on with enjoying all the great things that modern life has to offer.'