Whether it is your friends,
siblings, kids, or coworkers, chances are that you know someone who plays
Pokémon Go. The new mobile game has gained massive popularity among kids and
adults alike, quickly becoming one of the most downloaded applications around
the nation. Alongside its growing fan base, the game has also garnered serious
criticisms amid numerous reports of accidents involving drivers and
pedestrians. Many, including law enforcement, medical professionals, and
concerned parents, assert that the game constitutes a dangerous distraction
which opens up the public to the risk of serious injury.
What Makes Pokémon Go Especially Problematic?
Mobile games and smartphones are
nothing new, so why has Pokémon Go become the center of such controversy? This
is the question that many people are asking and the answer may lie within how
players are meant to control their in-game avatar. In Pokémon Go, unlike with
most games, in order to control characters in-game, players must physically
move around within the real world. The game uses a phone’s GPS in conjunction
with google maps data to actively track a player’s location and movement. The
more a player moves, the more they are rewarded.
While specifically created to be
used while walking, some users have sought to shortcut the system and play the
game while driving. As the game typically absorbs a player’s attention
completely, Pokémon Go related accidents resulted almost immediately after the
games release. In fact, a quick google search will bring up reports of
accidents from all over the world caused by drivers who veered off course
hitting pedestrians, parked cars, and roadside objects such as trees.
In response to these criticisms, the
game’s developers, Niantic, have implemented several features in an attempt to
dissuade users from playing while it is unsafe to do so. For example, each time
a player logs in, they must acknowledge that they will pay attention to their
surroundings and will not play while driving. Additionally, several main
features of the game shut down if it registers that a player is moving too
fast. Despite numerous counter measures by Niantic, reports continue to surface
of accidents caused by distracted Pokémon Go players.
Pedestrians Injured by Distracted Drivers
When a person chooses to play
Pokémon Go while driving, they put the lives of others at risk. While
pedestrians must be aware of their surroundings, the speed and inertia of a
motor vehicle may be impossible to avoid when piloted by a distracted driver.
If you or a loved one has fallen victim to the reckless actions of a Pokémon Go
player, our firm wants to hear your story.
At Cohn & Swartzon, P.C., we
have substantial experience helping victims to recover damages from medical
costs, missed work, physical pain, and mental anguish. If you have questions,
talk to our Orange County personal injury attorneys about your accident in a
FREE consultation.
Call (888) 480-3883 and learn about which legal options may be
available to you.
