West Virginia is well-known for its deadly highways, which claim dozens of lives every year. Whether you’re driving in the city or out in the West Virginian countryside, giving the road and other drivers your full attention are some of the most important things you should be doing. Talking on the phone, eating and drinking (and especially not alcohol!), and even taking your eyes off the road to change the radio station can lead to a serious accident.
With the massive rise of Pokemon Go, it’s important to reinforce the idea that drivers should only pay attention to the road and other drivers on the road. Sure, Pokemon Go may be addicting and a lot of fun to play, and, although you should never do it, with a car you can cover more ground and perhaps find some Pokemon that you wouldn’t find otherwise.
Getting in an accident while playing Pokemon Go can cost you everything. As a Charleston WV auto accident attorney, we are able to help people pursue personal injury claims when the victim was injured due to the negligence and/or wrongdoing of another party. Since founding the Love Law Firm in 2014, we’ve personally witnessed the financial devastation (as well as emotional hardship) caused by distracted driving.
If you were injured in an accident caused by another individual, don’t suffer the sheer weight of the financial damages yourself. Call the Love Law Firm in Charleston WV today.
Pokemon Go and Unsafe Situations
Pokemon Go started making news after it was released due to people engaging in unsafe behavior while trying to catch Pokemon. Reports of drivers playing Pokemon Go were also prevalent, and definitely surprising. In fact, between July 10 and July 19th in 2016, researchers analyzed 345,433 tweets that contained words such as driving, car, drive, Pokemon, or other similar words. Not only were individuals playing Pokemon Go while driving, but they were also tweeting about it. Talk about distracted driving!
Unfortunately, some Pokemon Go injuries happen to innocent victims, who suffered severe injuries due to the negligence of a player. In West Virginia, if a person is injured due to the fault and/or negligence of another, that person can pursue compensation for financial damages (as well as pain and suffering) incurred. Some common examples of personal injury caused by distracted Pokemon Go players have included:
- Car accidents — We at the Love Law Firm cannot stress the importance of putting down your phone while driving. Pokemon Go, however, demands substantial attention, and while driving a multi-ton steel vehicle, paying attention to your phone for even a short period of time puts both yourself and others at great risk.
- Distracted drivers — Pokemon Go and driving can cause more than just car accidents; a distracted driver can cause an accident with a bicyclist, pedestrian, or another person who happens to be in the distracted driver’s way.
- Bicycle accidents — Riding a bicycle requires just as much, if not more, attention while on the road. If the bicyclist injures him/herself while playing, then the liability rest fully on his/her shoulders. If the bicyclist is hit by a distracted driver, however, then he/she should call a West Virginia bicyclist attorney as soon as possible.
Compensation in an Auto Accident Case
West Virginia is a comparative fault state, meaning that the individual who causes an accident is liable for the percentage of his/her own fault. For instance, imagine you were driving through a green light talking on the phone. Another car runs a red light and t-bones your car. In this example, the driver who ran the red light might be found to be 95% at fault, and because you were talking on your phone and unable to react quickly, you might be found to be 5% at fault. If you’re suing for $10,000 in compensation for personal injury damages incurred, the maximum you’ll be able to receive is $9,500 (95% of the settlement).
As such, causing an accident and injury while playing Pokemon Go could make you liable for the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- Loss of income at work
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
Call the Love Law Firm If You Were Injured in an Accident
It’s critical to put the phone down while driving, for your health and safety as well as the safety of those around you. If you were injured in an accident caused by another individual’s negligence or wrongdoing, make sure to call Charles Love, one of the leading Charleston WV personal injury attorneys. We offer diligent, experience-backed representation, and we will continually fight for fair and reasonable compensation. For a free, no-obligation consultation with attorney Charles Love, call our Charleston WV law firm today at (304) 344-5683.
