Americans are now more connected than ever before thanks to social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. However, the temptation to share our lives with friends and family may be overwhelming for some, even at times when such activity can be dangerous.

Using social media apps while driving has become a national phenomenon, and drivers have admitted to updating Facebook or taking selfies behind the wheel. Snapchat, the app that encourages users to take selfie photos, has been identified as a possible cause of serious car accidents.

The app has a speed filter that records how fast users are moving while taking selfies. We can use a recent news story to highlight the consequences of using Snapchat’s speed filter behind the wheel.

On a four-lane highway outside of Georgia, an innocent man’s life was changed forever by a driver who was using Snapchat’s speed filter while taking selfies. According to a lawsuit, the selfie-obsessed driver was travelling at 107 miles per hour when she hit the man’s car. The impact was so powerful, it sent his vehicle flying across the road and into a nearby embankment.

Despite causing an accident while using Snapchat, the driver responsible for the crash continued to take selfies in the ambulance on her way to the hospital. Her victim suffered a serious traumatic brain injury and can no longer work. The family of the injured man has filed a lawsuit against Snapchat and the driver.

Is Snapchat’s Speed Filter to Blame for This Car Accident?

According to the lawsuit filed against Snapchat by the family, the app’s speed filter encourages taking selfies at high speeds. Users are given ‘trophies’ for taking task-oriented selfies, such as photos at very high speeds. These trophies are then displayed on user profiles. In many ways, Snapchat’s speed filter and trophy system awards users in the same way as many modern video games.

The lawsuit filed against Snapchat claims the company was aware of prior car accidents caused by the speed filter, but kept the feature in place anyways. Police are still investigating this accident, and details will be forthcoming.

Trophies on Snapchat are not more important than the lives of others. We have a responsibility to drive safely, and that can only be done if our attention is focused on driving.

The Colorado personal injury attorneys at Metier Law Firm can help hold negligent drivers responsible when they cause accidents.