Snapchat and Driver Sued by Man Injured in Car Accident

In yet another example of the dangers of distracted driving and the grave consequences that can follow, a Georgia teen is being sued for recklessly using Snapchat while driving, which resulted in a car accident that severely injured another motorist. Snapchat is also being sued for negligence in the case.

Prior to the car accident last year, the young driver began using a snapchat filter that clocks the speed of vehicles spurring her on to higher speeds, despite the pleas of her passenger to slow down. Just prior to the accident, the driver reached speeds of 107mph before slamming into the back of a man’s car leaving him with traumatic brain injuries.

Because of cases like this and the well-known dangers associated with driving while distracted, many are pushing for stricter laws to discourage smart phone use while driving. Currently, fourteen states prohibit the use of hand-held devices by drivers, and 46 ban texting.

Texting while driving is illegal in Iowa but, the state’s ‘secondary’ texting law means that a law enforcement officer can only issue a ticket for texting if the officer witnesses a separate violation in addition to texting while driving. Some believe the law does not go far enough to protect motorists in the state.

Source: New York Times, Snapchat at 107 M.P.H.? Lawsuit Blames Teenager (and Snapchat), by Katie Rogers, May 3, 2016