Will Lawsuit Against Snapchat End Speed Filter Craze?

A Georgia man has filed a lawsuit against Snapchat after a driver using the app’s speed filter crashed into him, injuring him and leaving him with permanent brain damage. Wentworth Maynard was starting his Uber driving shift on September 10th in Hampton, Georgia, when a Mercedes collided with his Mitsubishi. The driver, 18-year-old Christal McGee, was allegedly going 107 mph on a road with a 55 mph speed limit.

The lawsuit against Snapchat claims McGee was using the app’s speed filter to record her speed. She also allegedly sent out a Snapchat of herself on a gurney just after the crash with the message “Lucky to be alive.”

Maynard was hospitalized for 5 weeks with a traumatic brain injury. According to his attorney, he lost 50 pounds, can no longer work and can hardly take care of himself. Along with Snapchat, Maynard is also suing McGee for her role in the crash.

The lawsuit alleges Snapchat’s speed filter rewards users for submitting photos of their speed. However, Snapchat claims they discourage users from using the speed filter while driving. The app also displays a warning message against “snapping and driving.”

This is not the only time Snapchat’s speed filter has been linked to a car accident. In December of last year, three women were killed in a fiery car crash in Philadelphia just after sending out a Snapchat showing off their speed.

“Unfortunately, it’s not enough to simply discourage users from using the speed filter while driving. If a feature is tempting people, especially teenage drivers, to make unwise choices while behind the wheel, it should be eliminated,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

 

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.

Recent Posts
Popular Tags

Walter Clark Legal Group

Walter Clark Legal Group
N/a
Skip to content