According to a study conducted by the Queensland University of Technology in Australia (QUT), one in six young drivers uses the social media application Snapchat while driving. Sixteen percent of the 500 people surveyed say they’ve opened the Snapchat app on their phones while driving. Fifteen percent of these drivers sent photos and videos while they drove. A big reason these drivers take the risk is simply that they cannot resist the urge to share something seen while in the car. Most of the drivers claim they weren’t worried about being caught by police.
However, a ticket violation is the least of your worries in a distracted driving accident.
Using social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat and driving is a form of distracted driving. Distracted driving is as simple as it sounds. It is a driver that is distracted from the road, increasing the chances of a fatality or injury to an innocent party. If a driver uses social media while operating a vehicle, they comprise the three types of distracted driving: manual (taking one hand off of the wheel), cognitive (distracting your mind to view videos or photos), and visual (taking your eyes off of the road).
According to a CNN report, Snapchat is in hot water for personal injury lawsuits because drivers were distracted while using the app and driving. These car accidents produced several injuries, resulting in lawyers targeting the company for negligence. Between recent cases and the study conducted by QUT, young drivers are at particular risk for this behavior. Parents are encouraged to talk to their teenage or young adult children about the dangers of using social media while driving and should be sure to set a good example behind the wheel themselves.
Contact the New York Distracted Driving Attorneys
If you or a loved one have been hurt by a distracted driver, contact the experienced injury lawyers at (212) 779-0057. We are here to support you through this challenging time, so call us or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation today. We’ll help you understand your rights and legal options, and will help you get the justice you deserve.