An 18-year-old female was driving 107 miles per hour last September when she struck an Uber driver, who suffered a traumatic brain injury. The teenager was allegedly using the “Speed Filter” feature on Snapchat, a popular social media platform. This filter measures a person’s speed when he or she takes a selfie.
Injury attorneys recently filed a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and Snapchat on the victim’s behalf. According to his lawyers, Snapchat’s Speed Filter encourages teenagers to drive at a fast speed for social status, CNBC reports.
The victim had to spend five weeks in the intensive care unit. He cannot return to work or take care of himself.
Accidents like this are far more common than many people assume. In 2014, more than 400,000 people were injured in distracted-driving crashes, according to Distraction.gov. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of becoming a statistic. These include:
- Turning off your cell phone;
- Installing an app that prevents distracted driving;
- And looking for signs of distracted driving from other motorists.
If you were injured by a negligent driver, contact Antin, Ehrlich & Epstein, LLP. A New York City accident lawyer can evaluate your case to determine if you have grounds for a claim.
You may be entitled to compensation for health-care bills, lost income and other damages. Call 917-730-7151 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Here is a brief overview of three ways to prevent distracted-driving accidents:
- Turn off your cell phone before you start the engine.
Cell phones are not the only driver distractions, but they are particularly dangerous because they can impair your cognitive, physical and visual abilities. Checking social media, sending emails, texting and talking can draw your attention long enough to cause a fatal accident. It is best to turn off your cell phone before you start the engine.
- Install an app that prevents distracted driving.
It is not always easy to remember to turn off your cell phone. Fortunately, there’s an app for that; in fact, there are several. Popular options include:
Textecution: Once your vehicle reaches 10 miles per hour, the Textecution app will stop incoming messages and prevent you from texting.
TextLimit: Users can specify a speed at which certain smartphone features are completely or partially disabled. However, parents can still contact their children, even if the app is blocking disabled incoming calls.
- Look for signs of distracted driving from other motorists.
No matter how safe you are behind the wheel, you cannot control the actions of other drivers. However, you may be able to spot a distracted motorist and keep your distance. Common signs include:
- Stopping for a prolonged period of time at an intersection;
- Swerving;
- Sudden braking;
- Wearing headphones;
- And looking down as if texting or using the Internet on a cell phone.
If you or a loved one was injured by a negligent driver, contact Antin, Ehrlich & Epstein, LLP. An injury attorney in New York City can guide you through the claims process and help you avoid mistakes. Schedule a free initial consultation today by calling 917-730-7151.