If you haven’t already heard, there is a new app that has taken the world by storm. It is called Pokemon Go, and it is basically the digital age of geocaching. Players take their cellphone out into the real world to capture Pokemon that are wandering the streets.
It is very fun, but can also be a hazard when the players stop paying attention to the world around them and are only looking down at their phones.Injuries
There have been multiple reports of injuries happening to players of Pokemon Go. A couple people have walked off cliffs, a few have stopped their car in the middle of a busy road and gotten into an accident, and more. It may seem like common sense to not do these things, but when you are so involved with a game, you may not even realize what is about to happen.
Stay Aware
If you are playing Pokemon Go, the best way to avoid being the next news headline is to stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Losing touch with reality will cause you to not notice when you are walking straight into traffic or off a cliff. There are two modes in the game. One allows you to use your phone’s camera to integrate your actual surroundings into the game. The other one is just a map that shows you as an avatar walking around. Both modes suck you into the fun, but if you are trying to catch that rare Pokemon, you may not be able to focus on anything else. The app now comes with warnings when you first open it, reminding you to stay safe while playing.
Don’t Play While Driving
Don’t even open the app while you are driving your car. There are enough distractions these days while driving, so just save yourself the temptation. If you have kids in the car with you, be sure that they aren’t going to distract you from driving if you hand your phone to them. Sudden yells when a Pokemon is found can be very distracting. You may want to also explain before you hand over your phone that you will not be pulling over every 5 minutes to let them catch whatever they see.
Letting Kids Play
If you let your kids play with your phone, or with their own phone or tablet, just be sure that you help them to understand why it is important to stay alert and aware. Show them how distracting the app can be and warn them that injuries have happened. Kids may have the tendency to wander off in search of a Pokemon, so be sure to keep a close eye on where they are headed. Take them to a field, a trail in the woods, or other area away from traffic to do some hunting. Malls are another fun place, but you have to watch out that they stay out of foot traffic.
The app is really fun and encourages people to get out and walk around. There is no problem with that. Just don’t let yourself fall victim to not paying attention to your surroundings. If you’ve been involved in an accident where someone was playing Pokemon Go and caused an accident, contact The St. Pete Lawyer to help you with your case.
