2011 February Archive

Teen drivers are more susceptible to being involved in a car accident in Oklahoma than other drivers for a few different reasons. Inexperience and immaturity combined with alcohol, infrequent use of seat belts, or speeding can lead to serious or even fatal injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has created a multi-tiered strategy to help reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes and fatalities among teen drivers, which consists of increasing seat belt use, implementing a graduated driver licensing program, educating parents on their responsibilities on helping their teen form safe driving habits, and reducing access to alcohol.

The NHTSA reports that teens are involved in three times as many car crashes as other drivers. Statistics show that one of the leading causes of death for teens is auto accidents at 35 percent. Distracted driving, which often involves the use of cell phones, adjusting car radios, talking with other vehicle occupants, drowsy driving, and drug use contribute heavily to teen fatalities in car accidents.

The NHTSA has created an informational website to help promote safe driving practices for teens, and has information and resources for both parents and teens. For those who want to create an outreach program in Oklahoma and other cities across the country to help reduce the number of teen driving fatalities, informational templates, marketing materials, and other resources are also available at http://www.nhtsa.gov/Teen-Drivers.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Oklahoma, you deserve to know your rights. The skilled Oklahoma City car crash attorneys at The Maples Law Firm have the knowledge and experience to help you understand your options and hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. To schedule a free consultation, call 1-888-226-6159 today.

A fatal motorcycle accident occurred on Wednesday, February 16, which left a 62-year-old pastor dead, according to KFOR. The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. as the man was exiting I-35 and lost control of the motorcycle when it hit sand on the roadway. The bike skidded on its side for about 100 feet before coming to a rest. After hitting the pavement, the motorcyclist suffered a fatal head injury, even though he was wearing a helmet.

Further investigation of this tragic motorcycle accident in Oklahoma will determine whether or not negligence had a contributing role in the cause of the crash. Since the man lost control when his bike hit the sand, investigators may want to figure out why the sand was there in the first place to determine if the sand was there due to a person’s mistake. Sand is frequently used to help stuck vehicles regain traction in the snow. Leftover sand could have contributed to the fatal Oklahoma motorcycle accident. While this is a plausible option, investigators may want to examine the motorcycle itself to ensure that all components were working properly and that there were no mechanical defects. If it is found that there was a faulty motorcycle part, the manufacturer of the bike could be held liable.

If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash, one of the dedicated Oklahoma motorcycle accident attorneys at The Maples Law Firm can help you. Our lawyers are well versed in Oklahoma laws surrounding these types of accidents and can help you understand your rights and options. Contact The Maples Law Firm today at 1-888-226-6159 to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you.

The SUV that was involved in a fatal crash on February 3 that left three people dead was removed from Spring River on Saturday, February 12, according to NewsOn6.com. The accident occurred when the vehicle was traveling west on I-44 and hit a patch of ice, which caused the SUV to slam into a concrete wall before plunging 61 feet into the river below. Six people survived the accident while three others perished. Crews were unable to remove the vehicle from the river for over a week due to the intense storms that have been hitting the state.

Driving in snow and ice can be a daunting task, even to the most experienced motorist. It is of utmost importance for motorists to practice safe driving during snowy and icy weather or, if possible, avoid driving altogether. If you must drive during harsh weather conditions, there are a few precautions you can take that can help you in case of an emergency.

• Keep a shovel, cat litter or sand, snow chains, and a windshield scraper in your car at all times.
• Reduce your speed and keep three times the amount of space you normally would between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Keep your windshield clean to prevent visibility issues.
• If you start to skid, pump your brakes. Never slam on them.
• Do not use cruise control.

The experienced and knowledgeable Oklahoma City car accident attorneys at The Maples Law Firm are available to help you understand your rights if you have been involved in a car crash in Oklahoma that was caused by another driver’s negligence. To schedule a free consultation, call 1-888-226-6159 today.

New legislation is being sought to improve the way workers’ compensation lawsuits are treated in Oklahoma, according to an article on NewsOK.com. The governor of Oklahoma addressed the House and the Senate recently regarding her proposal to change the way personal injury lawsuits are handled in order to help injured workers in a more timely manner.

The governor stated that with the way things are now, Oklahoma workers’ compensation costs are too high and claims are not processed quickly enough. Currently, the state has roughly 170,000 open workers’ compensation claims. The governor wants to see a hard cap set for non-economic damages at $250,000 which would include pain and suffering. At this time, there is no cap; however, a bill was passed two years ago that would place a $400,000 cap on all negligence cases if legislators passed an indemnity fund, which would cover jury awards over that amount. No fund has been created thus far.

Workers’ compensation in Oklahoma is available to those who have been injured while on the job, though it oftentimes does not cover the full extent of costs suffered by an injured worker. Medical bills can skyrocket quickly, leaving the injured worker and their family in distress. However, an experienced Oklahoma City workers’ compensation attorney can help.

Ray Maples, dedicated personal injury lawyer and founder of The Maples Law Firm, has the skill and resources necessary to hold negligent employers accountable for their actions in a court of law. If you have been injured while at work, you deserve to know your rights and options. Contact Ray Maples for a free and confidential consultation at 1-888-226-6159.

A new bill is being considered in Oklahoma that would place a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages for personal injury cases. However, one Oklahoma woman is speaking out against the reform since she sustained severe burn injuries from the waist up due to medical negligence, in 2009 according to OKWatchdog.com. The retired eighth grade teacher, who had endured cancer and chemotherapy, underwent reconstructive surgery, during which a cauterizing tool ignited alcohol that had been used to disinfect the woman.

According to the woman, the cap would only further hurt those who had already suffered so much due to medical negligence in Oklahoma. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) reports that approximately 100 medical fires occur each year, and result in at least 20 injuries and about two deaths. Because these types of injuries can be so severe and often require lifetime care, a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages would cover only a small fraction of the suffering that some of these patients have been forced to suffer.

The woman seeks to educate the public on the effects of medical negligence in Oklahoma and the importance of holding negligent parties accountable for their actions. She says that a jury should decide what her injuries are worth, not politicians who are looking to take over healthcare. She believes legislators should pay attention to making healthcare facilities safer so that incidents like hers do not happen to others.

If you or a loved one has been severely injured due to medical negligence, you have rights and deserve to have them upheld in a court of law. Ray Maples, experienced Oklahoma City medical malpractice attorney and founder of The Maples Law Firm, has the skill and knowledge necessary to help you garner the compensation you deserve. To learn more about how Mr. Maples can help you, call 1-888-226-6159 for a free consultation of your case.

A two-vehicle crash occurred south of Ada and left one man with a minor head injury, according to The Ada Evening News. The Oklahoma car accident occurred on Tuesday, February 8 when a 34-year-old driver of a Ford pickup failed to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign and pulled out in front of a 44-year-old driver of a Pontiac car. In turn, the Pontiac crashed into the pickup truck and forced both vehicles into the median. The driver of the Pontiac was taken to a local area hospital for treatment, while the pickup truck driver did not sustain any injuries.

Many car crashes in Oklahoma result in one or more motorists sustaining serious or even fatal injuries. Some serious injuries may include:

• Broken bones
• Burns
• Lacerations and bruising
• Nerve damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries

Motorists who do not obey traffic laws run the risk of causing an accident, like the one mentioned above. All motorists have a responsibility to pay attention to their surroundings while operating a motor vehicle. If a crash occurs due to a driver’s negligence, they can be held liable for all subsequent injuries, related expenses, and property damage.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Oklahoma, contact Ray Maples, dedicated Oklahoma City car accident attorney and founder of The Maples Law Firm. A serious injury can place a heavy burden on not only the injured individual, but on their family as well. With medical bills, time off work, and the possibility of future rehabilitation or medical treatment, a family’s financial state can rapidly decline. Mr. Maples will work diligently to help you understand your legal rights and ensure that you are compensated fairly for your injuries. To learn more about how The Maples Law Firm can help you, call 1-888-226-6159 for a free consultation.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has extended its testing and certification of lead content in children’s products until December 31, 2011. The decision was voted in on January 31 and requires importers and manufacturers of children’s products outside of the United States to have the proper certificates stating that the lead content in their products meets U.S. limits. If a certificate is not obtained from a CPSC-approved third party laboratory, then a manufacturer’s children’s products may not be sold in the U.S.

There are already federal restrictions in place regarding the total lead content in children’s products, but despite the extension of testing and certification, any manufacturer, importer, or retailer of children’s products must still adhere to these regulations.

According to The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), a child product is not allowed to have more than 300 parts per million of lead. However, unless the CPSC determines that it is not practical to do so for technological reasons, the lead content limit will drop to 100 parts per million in August.

Currently, the testing enforcement does not apply to lead paint, which can have no more than 90 parts per million, or children’s metal jewelry, which allows 300 parts per million. Third party testing is required for products in these two categories.

If your child has been injured by a children’s product or toy, you deserve to know your rights. The experienced Oklahoma City dangerous child product attorneys at The Maples Law Firm understand the difficulty of having to watch your child suffer needlessly due to someone else’s negligence. With our network of legal resources, we will conduct a thorough investigation of your child’s injury and build a strong case on your family’s behalf in order to garner you fair compensation. Medical expenses can pile up quickly, particularly if long-term care is required, and you shouldn’t have to foot the bill because of someone else’s negligent actions. To schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you, contact The Maples Law Firm at 1-888-226-6159.

On January 29, an auto accident occurred when a 2007 Nissan pickup ran off the road on Oklahoma 58, according to EnidNews.com, and the 69-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. When the man tried to correct himself, he over-corrected, which caused his pickup truck to veer right and flipped over at least three times. Unfortunately, he was not wearing his seat belt, and the man was ejected from the vehicle, suffering fatal head and chest injuries. It is not known why the vehicle left the road.

While the article states that the cause of the Oklahoma car crash was likely because the driver was “possibly sleepy,” further investigation will determine whether or not that was the true cause. Investigators will want to examine the vehicle to see if one or more of the pickup truck’s components could have failed or if there was some sort of defect that may have contributed to the accident. If it is found that a defective part or mechanical failure contributed to the crash, the victim’s family may be able to file a product liability lawsuit.

Automotive designers, manufacturers, and retailers have a responsibility to consumers to ensure that the vehicles they produce and sell are safe and free of defects that could cause consumers harm. If that responsibility is overlooked and an innocent person is injured or killed, the negligent party can be held accountable under Oklahoma law.

At The Maples Law Firm, our dedicated Oklahoma City product liability attorneys have what it takes to ensure that your rights are not violated after an accident. We will examine every detail of your accident and the events that led up to it to determine if negligence was a factor, and if so, we will build a strong case on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve. A serious injury or sudden loss of a loved one can be a hard burden to bear and you don’t have to do it alone. To learn more about how we can help, call The Maples Law Firm today at 1-888-226-6159. We offer free consultations.