by Tim O’Hare
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The Pokémon Go craze has taken over this summer — kids, teens and adults alike are scouring businesses, parks and in some cases, private properties (which, as a reminder, is illegal) to capture all the characters.
Over the past few weeks, several people have found themselves in precarious and even dangerous circumstances due to the game, including one driver in Baltimore who crashed his car at a high speed into a parked Baltimore police cruiser last weekend. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured. In another incident, a driver in Auburn, New York received minor injuries after crashing his car into a tree while playing Pokémon Go.
Federal officials estimate that distracted driving of all kinds — Pokémon Go included — contributes to at least 16 percent of all fatal car crashes. That equates to about 5,000 deaths per year, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. After decades of declines, highway fatalities have been on the rise in recent years, due to distracted driving.
If you’re a Pokémon enthusiast, here are some safety rules to remember next time you’re out chasing Pikachu:
- Never play the game while operating a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle.
• Do not trespass on private property.
• Always be aware of your surroundings, paying attention to potential hazards around you including roadways, waterways, drop-offs, etc.
• Do not enter or stop traffic in an attempt to catch a Pokémon.
• Travel in groups and only play in public locations that are well-lit.
• Be cautious about sharing your location while playing the game as strangers can see this information.
There are some definite pros to this new Nintendo craze. Kids are playing with their parents and people are making new friends playing the game. It is also getting kids and adults off the couch and out of the house, getting some exercise and breathing in fresh air. But the safety concerns are also valid. If you play Pokémon Go, be smart while playing and pay attention to your safety and the safety of those around you. You could save a life.
If you have been seriously injured or lost a family member in a car accident, contact The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare for a free consultation with a Dallas personal injury attorney.
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