During the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, there is an increased emphasis on preventing distracted driving accidents. Even with the overriding concern about distracted driving, social media platforms are full of selfies that people are taking while driving.
Just peruse the hashtags that correspond with the act of taking pictures while behind the wheel, including: #drivingtowork, #drivingtoofast, #smilingwhiledriving, and #stuckintraffic.
The dangers behind taking selfies while driving should seem obvious, but many drivers continue to snap away while driving down busy streets and highways. They ostensibly don’t realize that the focus it takes to push a button on a smartphone takes their attention away from the road. It also substantially limits the ability to react to sudden hazards that arise.
Even more troubling, some drivers take videos of themselves and stream them while they are driving. In fact, a young woman in California is likely to face criminal charges for her role in an accident that killed one person and seriously injured another. She reportedly was live streaming the drive and the aftermath of the accident.
In addition to criminal charges, the woman could face civil liability as well. The event could be seen as a breach of the duty to use reasonable care while behind the wheel which eventually caused the accident.
So while it may seem very cool to let your friends in on intimate details of your life in real time, even if you are driving, the results could disastrous. If you have been harmed by someone who was texting or live streaming while driving, an experienced personal injury attorney can advise you of your rights and options.