Metaverse Injury

VR injuries can vary greatly, but they mostly result from the user’s inability to perceive the environment around them. When you’re using a VR headset, you’re seeing and hearing stimuli from the metaverse rather than from reality. While this is what the devices are designed to do, it can be seriously disorienting for some people and can even cause people to forget that they’re not in the real world momentarily. In some cases, users have attempted to climb onto an elevated surface in the meta world and fallen on their faces because the surface doesn’t actually exist, which has resulted in disfigurement and expensive hospital bills for these individuals. Here are a few real-life examples of injuries that have resulted from VR use:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations, gashes, cuts
• Eyestrain
• Disorientation
• Muscle strains/tears
• Neck strain
• Concussions

There are many more situations where VR users have become injured while using their devices. For example, a Reddit user described an instance where he was playing an intense VR game and accidentally stepped on pieces of broken glass from a cup that his dog had knocked over. If he hadn’t been wearing the headset, he might have noticed the hazard in his path, but the immersion of the VR device caused him to step directly onto it and caused him to need stitches. If you find yourself injured from a VR device, contact us today for more information on your next best step.

The VR industry is rapidly evolving, but manufacturers have yet to address the pressing need for safety regulations. The problem is partially due to the ambiguous liability of VR injuries, as there are many contributing factors that can shift the liability onto different parties. For example, if a user misuses their VR headset and becomes injured, they’re likely liable for the damage because their actions were negligent. On the other hand, the manufacturer would be liable for the damage if the headset contained a defect that resulted in injury, but the user would have to prove that their use didn’t contribute to their injury. This is often complicated for someone without legal experience, but with the help of an experienced attorney, you can navigate through the complexities and determine liability with ease.

Morgan & Morgan’s attorneys are committed to staying ahead of the technological curve in regards to VR injuries. We’re only in the beginning stages of virtual reality and the metaverse, but our team is dedicated to helping those who find themselves injured find success in their lawsuit. 

VR headsets come with extensively detailed instructions and directions on how to use the product. Any user should carefully read these instructions to keep themselves safe from injury, but there are a few other steps you should take to protect yourself, such as:

• Establish a large, clear area in which you’ll use the device
• Remove the headset routinely to take in your surroundings
• Ensure that spectators are at a safe distance
• Remove loose items that can fall and become a hazard
• Close doors, windows, and remove household items that could trip you during use

Most importantly, you should make sure to remember that you’re still existing in the real world. The VR setting that you’re seeing might look indiscernible from reality, but at the end of the day, it’s just a game, and you’ll have to return to the real world at some point.

Virtual reality devices have allowed us to experience a new form of entertainment, one that we never thought was possible when we were kids. Now, it’s a reality, and there are many different devices you can choose from to access this magical entertainment, such as the HTC Vive, Oculus Quest 2, Playstation VR, HP Reverb, and the 360 Treadmill. While each of these devices offers its own unique set of benefits, they also come with various risks of injury for users, and you should exercise extreme caution during use to avoid an untimely hospital trip. 

If you do become injured by one of the aforementioned products or any other VR device, you’ll likely need an experienced lawyer to help recover damages. Fortunately, our attorneys are well-versed in all aspects of personal injury law and are committed to staying on top of the newest topics that are affecting the industry, especially metaverse injury law. 

Contact us today to get started.