The new augmented reality game “Pokémon Go” has received tremendous attention. The digital monster-catching game broke all download records at Apple’s App Store: by some estimates, 75 million users now have it.
Concerns over the potential risks to players of the game—and to those around them—followed immediately on the heels of its release. There were worries about players walking into objects or people, stepping in front of moving cars, and trespassing. All of these things have happened, as has the greatest worry expressed over the game: people contributing to distracted driving crashes by playing “Pokémon Go” behind the wheel.
Don’t Know About It? Have You Been Trapped in a Pokéball?
The “Pokémon Go” craze has been sweeping the country, and it’s difficult not to have noticed: A survey performed only twelve days after the game’s release found that 83 percent of Americans had seen something about the game in the news, while a surprising 93 percent had at least heard the name.
Those are phenomenal numbers, especially considering that the game, in which players use their smartphone cameras to view a version of the world with digital game components added, was only just released on July 6. Awareness isn’t necessarily knowledge, though. Only 16 percent of those surveyed claimed “a good deal of knowledge” about the game, while slightly more (18 percent) incorrectly identified the Incan city of Machu Picchu with the Pokémon character Pikachu.
To give these numbers some context, a political poll done around the same time found that only 59 percent of American voters had heard of 2016 Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson. Johnson also ran in 2012 and served two terms as Governor of New Mexico beginning in 1995—the same year the original Pokémon game was created.
Worrisome Incidents Accumulating
The majority of the game’s players have caused no problems. We’ve seen a few reports of trouble in Florida, but so far most incidents have been minor. In Bradenton, a large group of players was trespassing in a city park after hours, but most left when asked by police. One man, however, allegedly refused, scuffled with police, and was eventually subdued using a Taser.
In some cases, Florida “Pokémon Go” players have been the victims, as when a nervous Palm Coast home owner shot at two players after confronting them in the street outside his home, fearing they were planning or had just committed a burglary. The only things they were trying to collect were Pokémon, however. Other parts of the country have experienced similar incidents, where players have been mistaken for criminals or even targeted by them.
Crashes the Biggest Worry
The greatest fear, however, is over car crashes. We haven’t heard of any in Florida . . . yet. But one distracted driver who was playing “Pokémon Go” crashed into a tree in New York. Two more did the same in Wisconsin. A driver in Vermont walked away from a single-vehicle crash, while a Washington man had the dubious honor of causing the first multiple-vehicle crash; fortunately, no one was injured.
That was also true in Baltimore when a player crashed into a parked police car. That incident was caught on video, and should scare anyone who watches it because the outcome could have been far worse.
Car Crash Attorneys in Miami
Distracted driving is a major factor in auto accidents today, accounting for nearly 40,000 injuries and over 200 deaths in Florida last year. Miami-Dade had the unhappy distinction of leading the state in fatalities. That’s not something any of us were happy to see, and the chance that an app like “Pokémon Go” might push those numbers higher isn’t something to look forward to.
If you find yourself the victim of a distracted driving crash, whatever the cause, get in touch with Lavent Law to find out what we can do to help. We understand the law as it relates to distracted drivers, and we offer a free consultation. Call us at 305-440-0450 or contact us online today to discuss your case.
The post “Pokémon Go”—Real Risks from a Virtual World appeared first on Attorney Boris Lavent.
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