Driving While Using Social Media Is A Dangerous Distracted Driving Behavior

Billions of people across the globe are active on social media, with a good number of these people being social media addicts. Usually, you will find social media addicts using social media everywhere, including in their cars when driving. Unfortunately, using social media while driving is the newest deadly trend. The use of social media while driving can be even more dangerous than driving while impaired. This latest form of distracted driving is most common among teenagers. However, even adults are guilty of driving while using social media.

How Social Media Can Distract Drivers and Result in Accidents

Firstly, for a driver to read posts on social media or type a post or comment, they need to take their eyes off the road. Unfortunately, visual distraction keeps a driver from focusing on the road ahead where they are supposed to be looking to ensure safe driving.

Secondly, using social media while driving leads to cognitive distractions. Usually, it takes time for a driver to process the information they see on social media. Some social media posts can take a minute or more to read, which represents a long time for a driver to have their mind off the task of driving.

Thirdly, using social media while driving results in a driver being manually distracted. In order to type a post or comment, a driver needs to take at least one hand off the wheel.

When a driver takes their eyes off the road, mind off the task of driving, or hands off the steering wheel because of social media, they may, among other things, end up running a red light or missing a stop sign, all of which are things that can cause accidents.

Apart from reading posts and typing posts or comments, other ways social media can distract a driver include engaging in challenges. Over the years, a scary trend has unfolded: the series of social media challenges involving cars. Unfortunately, these dangerous challenges can result in serious accidents. People have died because of these challenges, and others have sustained serious injuries.

One challenge that involved a vehicle and that attracted many social media users was the “Kiki Challenge.” In this challenge, drivers were required to exit their cars while still in motion to dance to a famous Drake song. Unfortunately, such a challenge puts the participant’s life and the lives of other road users at risk.

Liability in a Car Accident Involving Social Media Use

In a car accident case involving social media use, the party that was distracted by social media use at the time of the accident is likely liable for the accident.

If a feature on the app led to reckless driving, the social media company might also be held responsible. One such feature is the speed filter that was embedded in Snapchat, which led to a driver causing an accident in 2016. This accident resulted in the victim sustaining traumatic brain injuries.

Contact Us for Legal Help

Were you in a Florida car accident involving social media use? Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Ocala, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, Bradenton, and Daytona Beach areas.

Sources:

cdc.gov/transportationsafety/distracted_driving/index.html

money.cnn.com/2016/04/26/technology/snapchat-speed-filter/