A new mobile application, Pokémon Go, has recently come under fire amid continuing reports that drivers are causing traffic accidents while attempting to play the game. Recently, a Baltimore man crashed his Toyota RAV4 into the back of a police cruiser while distracted by the game. In another incident, a New York man reportedly veered off the road, crashing his car into a tree. Although no severe bodily injury or fatalities have yet to be reported, if this dangerous trend continues, it may only be a matter of time.
Why Pokémon Go Can be Problematic
The game works by using the GPS and camera systems in a smartphone to engage players in an augmented reality experience where they can search for, catch, and battle their Pokémon. A Key feature of gameplay is that users must physically travel throughout their real-world city in order to progress. This has led many players to open the game while behind the wheel, greatly hindering their ability to drive. Drivers are continuing to play Pokémon Go despite full-screen warnings.
The potential dangers involved with driving are no secret and accidents on the road can result in serious injury. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving occurs when a visual, cognitive, or manual stimuli takes a driver’s attention away from the road. Pokémon Go has the potential to cause a distraction by every criterion. Drivers have a duty of care to operate their vehicle safely. When a negligent action caused by distracted driving leads to an accident, drivers can be liable for any resulting damages or injuries.
Have You Been Injured by a Distracted Driver?
If you have been injured by a driver playing Pokémon Go or distracted by their mobile phone, our San Jose personal injury attorneys want to hear your case. Our car accident lawyers have more than 25 years of experience helping clients to seek justice and we have recovered millions of dollars in previous settlements. The sooner you call our offices, the sooner we can help.
Call (408) 912-2217 to schedule a free consultation and talk to an attorney from our firm today.