In recent years we have seen an increasing number of auto accidents take place as the result of texting while driving. Because of this, there are numerous campaigns dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of texting and driving. With this in mind, we have seen a series of lawsuits brought across the country against Snapchat, the image messaging and multimedia mobile app. According to lawsuits brought in both Georgia and Texas, Snapchat’s ‘speed filter’ function is to blame for at least two serious car accidents that has left the victims with serious, life-changing injuries.
Snapchat’s speed filter includes the user’s vehicle speed to their photo and awards those who are going the fastest at the time the image was captured. According to the information obtained from the Georgia man’s lawsuit, the teenager in question admitted to trying to get her Mercedes-Benz up to 100 mph in order to win a trophy for the Snapchat picture. While attempting to snap the image, the teen caused a car accident that left the victim with permanent brain damage. This particular case – and others – has brought attention to the Snapchat filter and its safety. While some teens interviewed have admitted to using the filter, but only as a passenger in the car, it is safe to say that not all will act as responsibly. In fact, in a survey conducted by a Central Texas news outlet, more than 50 percent of the high school students surveyed admitted to having taken a picture or video of themselves while driving. Furthermore, nearly 82% of the students said they know someone who has snapped a picture and/or video while driving. These numbers are indicative of this growing problem of distracted driving and the dangers of apps such as Snapchat are causing with their ‘fun’ filters.
The Problem with Distracted Driving
According to an article from the Huffington Post, a shocking 49 percent of adults say they have texted while driving at some point in their lives. Let’s take a look at a few additional statistics regarding the dangers of distracted driving, namely texting or using a mobile app while manning a vehicle:
- 9 people in the U.S. die every day as a result of car accidents that involve distracted driving, such as texting or talking on the phone
- The odds that a car accident involves a cell phone are 1 in 4
- 40% of teenagers say they have been in a car when the driver is texting or using their phone in a way that puts them all in danger
- 33% of drivers between the ages of 18 and 64 admit to having read or written a text message while driving
- In 2013, 341,000 car accidents involved texting
- The risk of accident is 4 times as much when the driver is using their cell phone in some capacity
- It is only safe for a driver to take their eyes from the road for 2 seconds. It takes at least 5 seconds on average to send a text message
- Texting is banned for drivers in 46 states
Distracted driving is a growing problem in the United States that affects drivers and passengers of all different age groups. As mobile apps such as Snapchat continue to grow in popularity, we expect this problem to only get bigger. If you have been the victim of a serious car accident caused by a distracted driver, please contact AMA Law today. Our Oklahoma personal injury lawyers have what it takes to fight for your rights and ensure justice is served.