I was new to a smart phone; and was using a soft-plastic case with flip cover; I hold my phone with my fingers around the flip screen (left handed).

The first one I went through - the little arms that hold the case on wore down. The second and third ones the fabric between the case and the flip part tore because of how I hold it.

now I am using a hard plastic case and the flip part fabric is stronger, so it hasn't broken yet.

I think I am also getting used to a smart phone so I don't seem to be dropping it as often as I did in the first month.