Smartphones and driving do not mix. Activities such as texting, reading email, browsing the internet, or even dialing a phone number can be distracting and take a driver’s focus off of the road. As if the potential for distraction was not already great enough, a new and popular app known as Pokémon GO has given drivers another reason to be distracted, and people playing the game while driving has already been linked to several accidents (for example, here and here).
What Makes the Game So Distracting?
In a traditional video game, users sit in front of a screen and manipulate a virtual world. Pokémon GO, however, is a new type of video game that utilizes a technology known as “augmented reality.” In an augmented reality game the player is required to interact and move through the real world while the software superimposes game elements onto an interface. For example, in Pokémon GO, players look “through” their phones using the camera function while fictional creatures appear as if there were in the world around them.
Distracted Driving Accident Victims Can Often Recover Compensation
While Michigan law does not specifically prohibit distracted driving, it is likely that anyone hurt by a driver playing on their smartphone would be able to recover compensation. Some of the damages that are often recovered in distracted driving accidents include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of quality of life
- Property damage
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
It is important to recognize that you should speak with an attorney after an accident, even if the other party is conceding liability. Determining the actual value of a car accident case is very difficult, and accepting the first offer made by the at-fault party’s insurance company could result in you missing out on thousands of dollars in compensation. When you retain a lawyer who is familiar with representing car accident victims, he or she will evaluate your case and make sure that you receive the full value of your legal claim.
Call Michigan Injury Lawyers Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
If you have been injured by a driver distracted by a cell phone app or anything else, you should speak with an attorney as soon as you can. To speak with an experienced Michigan car accident attorney, call our office today at 313-GET-HELP or contact us online.
Posted In: Car Accidents