Pokemon Go is the latest fad game on mobile devices, encouraging families to get outdoors and collect the famous little monsters in augmented reality. Unfortunately, despite warnings from developer Niantic, many users are not playing the game as intended. Drivers may be easily tempted to check their phone on the road for rare Pokemon, which can be just as dangerous and distracting as texting. If you have recently been in an auto accident and believe the other driver was playing Pokemon Go at the time, contact your local personal injury attorney to explore whether you can build a strong case through the following four steps.
Exploring the Risks of Pokemon Go
One of the primary issues with Pokemon Go is that it spawns monsters on roads as well as in parks. This means that players riding in a car are still rewarded for looking at their phones, and where there is temptation, there will always be a few who give in. But this negligence has already led to several car accidents across the country, including a man who crashed into a Baltimore police cruiser while playing.
Collecting Witness Testimony
Handling a Pokemon-related accident is similar to any other distracted driving case. Your most reliable evidence will be that of any witnesses nearby, who may have seen the other driver prior to the collision.
Checking the Journal
Even without the help of witnesses, Pokemon Go makes it relatively easy to check the activity of its users. Each user keeps an automated journal of each caught Pokemon, including the precise time the monster was found. If the person who caused your accident caught any Pokemon prior to your collision, it should be recorded in the journal. Your attorney should be able to help you seek to have this evidence admitted in court.
Requesting Phone Records
If the journal is not helpful, or if you begin to suspect that the other driver was texting or using the phone for other purposes instead, it may also be useful to have your personal injury attorney request his or her phone records. These can show basic usage activity such as sent or received calls and text messages, all of which can be used as evidence of distracted driving in court. Obtaining this kind of sensitive information is usually only possible for an attorney, which is why it is so important to arm yourself with the best legal help possible. This will enable you to back up your claim as strongly as possible to receive the compensation you need after your accident.
