Don't Pokémon-Go to court, lawyer warns
POKEMON-GO players could end up in a court room but they will not be there to track down rare game characters, Queensland lawyer Hideki Shimizu says.
The director of Injury & Accident Lawyers has warned users of the popular mobile phone-based game that they will be liable for injuries if they cause accidents while using the app.
There have been reports of car and other accidents involving Pokémon-Go users since it launched a few weeks ago.
The game has also resulted in people finding abandoned animals and dead bodies while exploring the world in their hunt for Pokémon-Go domination.
Property owners have also complained of game users wandering into their yards to catch characters.
Mr Shimizu said the Nintendo-backed game, which has been downloaded more than 10 million times, must be used with care.
He said a recent accident in Toowoomba, where a woman was reported to have backed her car into another vehicle while playing Pokemon-Go, was a timely lesson for gamers.
"It's obviously unwise to be playing Pokémon-Go while driving your car," he said.
"There would appear to be a strong chance that there will be claims from people injured by someone who was distracted playing Pokémon-Go.
"If you are involved in an accident while playing Pokémon-Go, it is the player who could be held liable for any injuries, not the app developers." - ARM NEWSDESK
