Accidents Caused by Drivers Playing Pokémon Go
Bill Allen | August 1, 2016 | Car Accidents
The record-breaking mobile game Pokémon Go has had a profound impact on pop culture and entertainment, but unfortunately, it has been in the news for almost as many negative headlines as it has positive ones. One of the first unintended problems to emerge with the app was the sudden spree of drivers playing the game while behind the wheel.
Distractions while driving are one of the leading causes of both accidents and fatalities in auto accidents, so the addition of another attention-pulling temptation presents another big problem for drivers. This recent string of distracted drivers has caused the developers of the game to install a warning which notifies players not to drive or trespass while playing the game, including popping up a warning when your GPS detects you are traveling at driving speeds.
However, these new warnings came too late for a few people. Let’s take a look at a few of the car accidents that have been contributed to Pokémon Go.
Baltimore, MD
A young man driving while playing the popular mobile game got a rude awakening when he collided with a police cruiser that was parked on the side of the road. Fortunately for everybody involved, nobody in the vehicle with the distracted driver as injured and the police were standing outside the car when the crash occurred, not actually sitting inside it. The incident has since prompted the Baltimore police department to create a “Don’t Pokémon and Drive” logo.
Auburn, NY
The first reported car accident attributed to the game occurred in Auburn, New York when a driver playing the game lost control of his car and collided head-on with a tree on the side of the road. As with the incident in Baltimore, it was fortunate that no major injuries occurred, especially because investigators say the engine nearly entered into the passenger space of the vehicle.
Tokushima, Japan
Most recently overseas, what is believed to be the first fatal accident involving the game occurred when one woman was killed and another injured when a driver distracted by the game plowed into them while they crossed the street. Japanese police estimate that this is the 79th accident since the game was introduced in the country a little over a month ago.
Avoiding Distracted Drivers
Many drivers fail to recognize that being distracted while behind the wheel presents tremendous danger to those around them as well as themselves. This makes distracted drivers a true nuisance of the streets that you should avoid at all costs. However, this is not always possible, and if you should happen to get into an accident with a distracted driver, whether they were playing Pokémon Go or had their attention pulled away by different means, make sure you contact a Gainesville criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible to review your legal options
At Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we have helped protect the best interests and financial well-being of Florida residents who have been injured by the negligence of another. When you are involved in a car accident and sustain injuries, we fight on your behalf to secure substantial compensation for expenses you may incur, such as medical bills, rehabilitation, missed work and more. We are proud of our Avvo Rating of 10.0 Superb and AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.
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