Latest Blogs

On July 6, 2016 Pokémon Go was released in the United States and according to the web analytics firm SimilarWeb, after just two days it was installed on more than 5 percent of Android devices. The rate of daily active users is running close to social network Twitter. Pokémon Go is being played, according to SimilarWeb, on average 43 minutes a day. This is more time than is spent on WhatsApp or Instagram.

Pokémon Go became the top grossing app in the iPhone app store just days after its release in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. The layering of gameplay onto the physical world has become a public safety concern.

The game requires players to find new Pokémons or battle other players by physically walking, riding or driving to different locations. It is an interactive scavenger hunt.

By using a person’s phone GPS tracker, the user is presented with a real-world map that includes locations of imaginary Pokémon and Pokémon gyms in the area. The player must find them in their real-world location, then trap them on the screen, says the New York Daily News.

Drivers are being distracted by Pokémon Go while driving causing accidents.

• Texas A&M University Police tweeted that a vehicle struck an illegally parked car July 11, noting that the “1st driver had exited to catch a Pokémon”. 

• A 28-year-old man slammed his car into a tree in upstate New York. Police investigating the accident said that the driver admitted he was actively playing the Pokémon Go game while driving which caused him to become distracted and run off the road into a tree. 

“Playing games like ‘Pokémon Go’ while driving is a distraction just like sending or receiving a text while behind the wheel,” said Karen Morgan, Public Policy Manager, AAA (American Automobile Association). “Unfortunately, it’s hard for law enforcement officers to crack down on distracted drivers. Texting while driving is only a secondary offense in Florida. This means officers must witness you committing another offense in order to cite you for texting. Strengthening the law to primary enforcement will send a clear message that distracted driving is a dangerous behavior.” 

According to AAA, over 600,000 motorists use a cell phone while driving in the United States. In Florida, more than 200 deaths have been as a result of motor vehicles and distracted driving. 

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) reported that in 2014 alone, 3,170 people were killed and 431,000 people were injured because of distracted driving. 

What is being done to prevent accidents from the game? 

The makers of the game have warnings posted when you open the app to stay alert and watch your surroundings, and the police are urging gamers to be cautious and aware of their surroundings, according to WKBN in Ohio. 

Josh Carrasco, spokesperson for AAA, said, “Put your phone down while driving. Just one quick text or glance to see the next Pokéstop could end up costing you or someone else their life.” 

“Being involved in an accident as the result of another driver’s being distracted is terrible and preventable. Playing Pokémon Go is just one more added distraction which should not be used while driving. If you have been in an accident, contact our experienced team recognized in 2016 by the Client Distinction Award. There are no costs or attorney fees until your win,” said Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.